The postdoctoral fellow will work to develop ex vivo and in vitro tissue engineered bone ossicles to induce and support the metastatic migration and invasion of primary breast cancer cells through a tissue engineered vasculature towards this tissue engineered bone. Cancer patients developing a metastatic disease are considered incurable. Breast cancer affects 1 woman in 8, and its most common metastatic site is the bone. A major hurdle to overcome breast cancer mortality is the lack of understanding of dynamics leading to the spread of breast cancer cells to the bone. The role of this this postdoctoral position is to work as part of a multidisciplinary international team in the development of a device to generate a first-of-a-kind 3D model of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis to the bone to dissect the complexity of the metastatic process and empower high-throughput drug screening in a physiological context.

You have a PhD with a biological background and are willing to work as part of a dynamic team and to collaborate with others beyond the bounds of the project description. You show an interest in developing an independent career through the successful attainment of local, national and international research funding. The following requirements are essential:

• experience with the development of in vitro and/or in vivo models of bone formation;
• willingness to work with small animals;
• standard lab techniques such as PCR, Western Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, cell culture are a must;
• regarding cell culture, experience with co-culture of multiple cell types is very desirable.

Experience in ummunology and flow cytomotry is very desirbale as it is an Artikel 9 or FELASA C animal experimentation licence. Experience with lineage tracing, molecular biology and proteomics or high throughput screening is also a plus.

Being able to present a certificate of good conduct is a condition for the appointment.

We offer a temporary position of 2 years with the possibility to extend for a maximum of 2 further years. The gross monthly salary amounts a maximum of €4.216,- (scale 10), depending on your level of education and relevant experience and based on a full-time working week of 36 hours. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Medical Centers (CAO UMC).

Erasmus MC

A healthy population and excellence in healthcare through research and education. This is what Erasmus MC stands for. Conducting groundbreaking work, pushing boundaries and leading the way. In research, education, and healthcare. We are practical people with a high level of expertise, working hard to improve and renew the healthcare of today and the public health of tomorrow.

You will be employed in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Bone Tissue Engineering Research group of Dr. Eric Farrell. The group consists of approximately 8 researchers and is focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in the bone field, particularly the process of endochondral ossification and the area of osteoimmunology. The research group collaborates with many other researchers within Erasmus MC and internationally.