Become part of the new research consortium IMAGINE! (Innovative Microscopy And Guidance of cells In their Native Environment). Our programme aims to transform cell biology by developing and applying advanced microscopy and real-time molecular manipulation techniques to study cells in their natural complexity and diversity. The consortium will form a unique and highly interdisciplinary team that combines cell, organoid, and tissue biology, as well as chemical and optical cell manipulation to study cell behaviour in development, cancer, and targeted drug delivery.

In this PhD position at Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, you will study the fundamental cell biology and molecular effects of therapies against tumor cells in vivo, using intravital microscopy. Targeted interventions will include inhibitors of the cytoskeleton (microtubules, small GTPases) and other targets developed by collaborators. You will not only analyse the effect on tumor cells, but also on cytotoxic immune cell attack and macrophage functions against tumor cells. Molecular reporters and targeting of macrophages will be performed in collaboration with the Verdoes Verdoes group dr. Martijn Verdoes - Radboudumc. Perturbing cytoskeletal pathways will be in collaboration with the Akhmanova Akhmanova team team of Utrecht University and Van Rheenen Group of The Netherlands Cancer Institute. We further wll explore disrupting membrane microdomains in collaboration with the van Spriel lab prof. dr. Annemiek van Spriel - Radboudumc. The overall goal is to "see drugs in action" within cells in tissue environment.

Tasks and responsibilities

• The PhD candidate will design and perform scientific research in the area of cell biology, microscopy and molecular pharmacology.
• Generates and analyses the data in order to contribute to scientific publications and presents findings at scientific meetings.
• Works in a team with other students of the IMAGINE! consortium and scientists to discuss, plans and performs research in a stimulating environment.
• Works in an international research group with fellows from many countries.
• Completes the project with a scientific dissertation.

We are looking for a highly motivated and creative candidate to join us in this unique project. We would like you to bring:

• a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Biology or a related field.
• a background in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or organoid biology and great interest in advanced microscopy and preclinical cancer models (in mice).
• analytical and problem solving skills.
• proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Article 9 Certificate for animal experiments, or equivalent.

If you feel that this role is the perfect match, but you do not yet meet all the qualifications, we also welcome you to apply.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together. We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

• A gross monthly salary between € 2.631 and € 3.336 (scale 10 A) based on full-time employment.
• An annual vacation allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the Cao UMC.

Radboudumc

This position is one of many PhD and postdoc positions available as part of the gravitational programme IMAGINE! (Innovative Microscopy And Guidance of cells In their Native Environment). IMAGINE! is an interdisciplinary programme combining cell, organoid, and tissue biology, as well as chemical and optical cell manipulation and analysis to study cell behaviour in development and cancer, and targeted drug delivery. Participating institutes are based throughout the Netherlands in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam, Nijmegen and Eindhoven. For more information on the individual positions, please visit our website imagine-microscopy.nl.

You will be embedded in the new interdisciplinary Department of Biomedical Science, which includes 5 around 180 scientists in the fields of Cell Biology, Tumor Immunology, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Bioinformatics. The department develops the teaching of medical, biomedical and natural science students, and offers MSc programmes and PhD programs through the Graduate School. The department maintains a high-profile international research programme, and is strongly interdisciplinary and collaborative across research disciplines. The Friedl team together with the Research Technology Centers Microscopical Imaging (MIC) and the Preclinical Animal Imaging Centre (PRIME) have a long-standing experience in the field of advanced microscopy of cancer cell invasion and metastasis in 3D tissue culture and in live mice. They focus on multi-scale analysis of cell-matrix interactions during single-cell and collective cell migration, proteolytic tissue remodeling during invasion and physical and molecular mechanisms tissue guidance of cell invasion. Particularly the development and use of in vivo-inspired 3D tissue culture models in vitro including defined in vivo models for intravital multiphoton microscopy of inflammation and tissue remodeling after implantation of biomaterials, which will be included and further developed in this project. The group of Peter Friedl has long-lasting expertise in the training of PhD, MD and MSc students participating as supervisors and tutors in departmental and inter-departmental courses including inter-university programs. As a PhD student, you will be integrated in the Radboud University Graduate School, providing an excellent multidisciplinary training environment.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc