The task of the post-doc will be to further streamline the translational arm of this research line focused on resistance to immunotherapy. We are looking for a highly motivated, ambitious, and committed young scientist to maintain and expand on intensive collaborations with the Immunotherapy lab of prof. dr. Tanja de Gruijl and the immuno-radiotherapy team of prof. dr. Suresh Senan; you will help conceptualize and develop new translational study concepts that integrate PET imaging and immune monitoring. You will be expected to publish and attend international conferences, and to apply for subsidies within this focus area. If successful, the appointment may be extended and lead to a PI position.

Also, you will help with management tasks setting up the bio-banking between our center’s bio-bank and the regional community hospitals. Leadership skills are required for managing undergraduate and graduate students.

We seek a highly motivated and experienced scientist who has a broad understanding of cancer immunology (preferably related to lung cancer), who is able to oversee the developments in the field of cancer immunology research and apply these insights to develop innovative new projects. We seek someone who can work independently and is creative, with good problem-solving abilities. The candidate should possess leadership qualities and be comfortable with working both independently and as part of a team.

As a postdoc you also have the following qualifications:

• A PhD-degree within the field of cancer or immunology research;
• Excellent track record in publications;
• Excellent English, communication and reporting skills;
• Expected to publish, apply for (personal) grants and participate in international conferences.

Fixed-term contract: 2 year.

Salary Scale 10: 2826 tot 4481 euro gross when employed full-time (depending on qualifications and experience).

In addition we offer:

• Additional benefits include an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay.
• Your pension premium will be paid by us for 2/3.
• We reimburse 75% of your OV travel costs (commuting costs).

We offer a postdoc position for a period of 24 months.

For more information about our employment conditions, please visit our website.
For Dutch citizens it is mandatory to provide a VOG (a declaration of good behaviour).

In Amsterdam UMC, we have the largest academic thoracic oncology group of the Netherlands. We have all treatment modalities for lung cancer in-house, ranging from complex surgery, state-of-the-art radiotherapy, all possible endobronchial interventions, to all systemic treatment options such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Our patient care is integrated with our research.

The investigator-initiated research program of thoracic oncology comprises the modalities of PET imaging, bio-banking, and translational lab collaborations. This program is embedded in the Immunotherapy, Radiotherapy and Imaging labs of the Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA). Our major research line concentrates on clinical resistance to immunotherapy (both primary and acquired) and the potential of immunotherapy. Within this focus area, we have developed clinical trials aimed at overcoming resistance including new modalities such as intratumoral immunotherapy and immuno-radiotherapy together with the department of Radiation Oncology. Furthermore, we perform immunoPET imaging studies such as the radio-labeled anti-LAG3 PET study in patients with acquired resistance. These clinical trials generate not only clinical data but also materials for translational research such as imaging data, tumor biopsies and blood samples. Also, in prospective cohorts of patients treated with immunotherapy, we are collecting blood samples in the Liquid Biopsy Center biobank. The biobank already has more than 700 samples, of which already more than 100 including peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This environment amply provides the conditions and opportunities for impactful translational research. Our group is a highly integrated group of clinicians (pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, lung pathologist, molecular pathologist, imaging experts) and researchers, where discussing ideas is highly stimulated.