Homologous recombination (HR) is an essential mechanism to repair toxic DNA breaks. Consequently, loss of HR impairs genomic stability and is therefore strongly associated with cancer development. For example, hereditary mutations in the HR-genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are well-described to predispose to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Interestingly, HR-deficient tumors are highly sensitive to specific therapeutics like PARP inhibitors. Identification of HR-deficiency can therefore guide therapy choice in the clinic. However, our knowledge on the genetic causes of HR-deficiency is incomplete. In this project, we therefore aim to expand our understanding of the genes that are involved in DNA break repair by HR, and to identify the associated genetic alterations in cancer that cause HR-deficiency.
The project is funded by recently awarded grants of the Dutch Cancer Society and the UMCG Cancer Research Fund, and can be divided into two research lines. First, we aim to identify HR-inhibitory genes that cause HR-deficiency and PARP inhibitor sensitivity upon overexpression in cancer. This will be done by state-of-the-art CRISPR activation screens using engineered DNA break repair reporter cell-lines. In the second research line, we will follow up on our recent identification of VHL, which is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in kidney cancer, as an HR-promoting factor. Using a broad spectrum of genetic, proteomic, molecular and cell biology techniques we aim to mechanistically unravel the HR-defect caused by VHL mutations, and to delineate how this affects sensitivity to therapeutics that target this HR-deficiency.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be part of an enthusiastic and multidisciplinary research group and should have the following requirements:
- A PhD in Medical or Molecular Biology.
- Experience in molecular and cell biology techniques (cell culture, DNA cloning, western blotting, microscopy, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, next-generation sequencing).
- An enthusiastic, self-motivated, ambitious, and proactive team player.
- Good communications skills in written and spoken English.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position. In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

This is a temporary full-time Postdoctoral Researcher position (36 hours/week;1.0 FTE) for 2 years. The starting salary is depending on experience, but with a maximum of € 4.518 ,- gross per month (salary scale 10 step 6). The UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres).

Medische Oncologie

A Postdoctoral Researcher position for 2 years is available in the research group of Prof. Marcel van Vugt, which is focused on cell cycle regulation and DNA damage responses in cancer cells. The research group is embedded in the Department of Medical Oncology of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands, where oncological patient care is coordinated with preclinical and fundamental research on the biology and treatment of cancer. The Department of Medical Oncology participates in the research institute Mechanisms of Health, Ageing and Disease (MoHAD), in which medical and molecular biologists, pharmacists and clinicians work closely together creating an optimal and excellent environment where the biological behavior of cancer cells, molecular imaging of tumors and novel approaches of cancer targeting are studied. More information on current research topics can be found on our websites.DNA damage response in cancerMohad