The overall aim of the Vooijs group is to identify actionable targets in the Notch signalling cascade that can be used to target cancers safely or to promote normal tissue regeneration. We have excellent research facilities and a multidisciplinary science program and are part of a Maastricht Comprehensive Cancer Center.

your role: you will involve characterizing the role of a metal transporter (Dmt1) in intracellular vesicles on Notch regulation that was identified in our lab as a novel and essential regulator of Notch activity in stem cells. The key objectives are 1) To identify how this metal transport(er) affects Notch localization, trafficking and transcriptional activity and 2) to direct cell differentiation or promote self-renewal by modulate Notch activity through metal transporter activity. You will apply pharmacological, gain and loss of function approaches in Notch-dependent 3D organoid (patient) models, generate knock-in cell lines expressing fluorescently tagged endogenous Notch proteins to follow their fate to allow dynamic highresolution live imaging (Confocal, STED, EM) and in vivo tissue expression analysis to decipher how metal transporters influence Notch activity and can be used to control direct cell differentiation and cell renewal in disease and regenerative applications. (References: Hounjet Biomolecules. 2021, Giuranno Stem Cell Transl. Med. 2020, Hounjet et al., Oncogene 2019).

We are looking for an ambitious Postdoc with a background and track record in molecular and (stem) cell biology. Experience with (live) optical imaging is preferred. Proficiency in English and good communicative skills and team player mentality is a must. Job responsibilities postdoc also include the co-supervision of (PhD) students and technicians in the Notch group.

Fixed-term contract: 32 Months.

We offer a full-time position (38 hours/week) for 32 months. Your gross monthly salary will be depending on your relevant work experience but will be between € 2.960,- and € 4.670,- according to salary scale 10. On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

De Universiteit Maastricht (UM) staat bekend om haar unieke innovatieve en probleemgestuurde onderwijssysteem (PGO), dat wordt gekarakteriseerd door een kleinschalige en studentgeoriënteerde benadering. Het onderzoek aan de UM is multidisciplinair en thematisch van aard, en vindt geconcentreerd plaats in onderzoeksinstituten en schools. De UM heeft op dit moment bijna 22.000 studenten en circa 5.000 medewerkers. Ten gevolge van het sterk internationale karakter is een groot deel van zowel studenten als medewerkers afkomstig uit het buitenland. De UM heeft zes faculteiten: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences en de Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. Voor meer informatie zie: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl. 

GROW Institute for Oncology

Maastricht University, GROW Institute for Oncology. At the department of Radiotherapy, we conduct fundamental and translational research and are affiliated with the MAASTRO patient clinic and the Maastricht Comprehensive Cancer Centre.The department has four PI led groups with research themes in tumour cell metabolism, cell death, extracellular vesicles and Notch signaling and stem cell fate. Furthermore, we have core facilities for NextGen sequencing, iPSC facility, high resolution (live) optical and (cryo) electron microscopy and mass spectrometry imaging (M4I).