What you are going to do 
Epigenetic processes control cellular function by regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression. Also in monocytes and macrophages epigenetic pathways are important in regulating responses and cellular phenotype and thereby impact on disease development. We have recently identified KDM3A, which regulates repressive H3K9 methylation, as an important epigenetic enzyme that affects macrophage responses and atherosclerotic disease development. Together with the Radboud University we have obtained a project funded by ZonMW to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control KDM3A and its family members and the H3K9-methyl mark. 

As a PhD candidate, your main tasks and responsibilities are:

• Identify the complexes and co-factors of KDM3A and H3K9Me that regulate macrophage inflammatory responses.
• Validate and functionally test the identified components by knockdown/knockout strategies on the inflammatory responses of macrophages.
• Align cellular gene signatures with inflammatory characteristics of human disease.
• Next to cell culture experiments, you will use and analyze state-of-the-art approaches such as RNA-sequencing and ChIP-sequencing analysis. 
• Interact closely with the Vermeulen lab at the Radboud University in Nijmegen

What we expect from you
You hold a master’s degree in a field related to biomedical sciences, (medical) biology, biochemistry or bioinformatics. You have affinity for molecular biology, immunology and epigenetics and are willing to learn how to perform high-dimensional data-analysis and bioinformatics. You have excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal. We are looking for an enthusiastic team player with positive social skills. Experience with informatics (computing in R) is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer you ample opportunity for development, deepening and broadening, additional training and a place to grow! Working at AMR means working in an inspiring and professional environment where development is encouraged in every respect.

• The maximum gross monthly salary based on a 36-hour work week is between € 2.495,- and € 3.196,- (scale 21 CAO UMC)
• The base salary does not include holiday pay (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%).
• We offer a contract for 4 years.
• In addition to excellent accessibility by public transport, AMC also has a sufficient number of parking spaces for employees.
• Pension is accrued at Be Frank.

For an overview of all our other terms of employment, see https://werkenbijamc.nl/arbeidsvoorwaarden-amr/.

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. Together we continuously build an environment where everyone feels welcome. To achieve that, we strive to provide equal opportunities for everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy.

AMC

The PhD student will work in the team of Prof. Dr. Menno de Winther (www.macrophages.eu) at the Experimental Vascular Biology Group of the department of Medical Biochemistry in the Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. You will work in a team with young and enthusiastic researchers (PhD-students, postdocs and technicians) with excellent infrastructure, who have expertise in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, epigenetics and cardiovascular disease. This project is funded by ZonMW and will be performed in close collaboration with the Radboud University.
Want to know more about working at AMR? Take a look at our website https://werkenbijamc.nl/werken-bij-amr/.