PhD in Molecular Cell biology

The majority of dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are characterized by intraneuronal tau pathology reflects a severe disturbance of protein homeostasis: ‘proteostasis’. Although tau pathology is considered to be a causal factor resulting in clinical symptoms like memory loss, the mechanism by which tau aggregation induces memory impairment is unknown. The integrated stress response (ISR) is a key proteostatic pathway that controls translation that has specifically been implicated in memory processing and is dysregulated in neurons with early stage tau pathology in brains of AD patients.

In a collaborative project we team up with Michel van de Oever and Priyanka Rao-Ruiz for engram cell tagging and FACS-assisted proteomics to obtain mechanistic insight into the role of the ISR in memory formation and persistence by engram cells and -importantly- how these are disturbed by tau pathology.

My group at Amsterdam UMC-Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam focuses on proteostatic stress mechanisms in neurodegenerative disease and is part of the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research. We use state-of-the-art molecular and cell biological technology (e.g. confocal microscopy, quantitative automated high content microcopy, CRISPRi, proximity biotinylation etc.) and (iPSC) cell models for proteostatic disturbance in neurodegenerative diseases, including tau pathology and stress responses.

We are looking for a PhD student with the ambition to pursue a career in the molecular and cell biology of dementia. Furthermore, you possess:

• A master’s degree in biomedical sciences, or similar degree with a neuroscience specialization;
• Hands-on expertise and motivation for the analysis of molecular pathways is required;
• Experience with cell culture and preferentially iPSC-derived neuron culture is desirable;
• Proficiency in the English language.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programs cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.

About the department(s)
The department of Functional Genomics is part of the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research in Amsterdam, and the department of Human Genetics, location VUmc.

Our PhD candidates participate in the Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam Rotterdam.