Wednesday, 11 July 2012

VACANCY: PhD Student at the Institute for Biology


Specifications - (explanation)
Location Gorlaeus laboratories Einsteinweg 55 2333 CC Leiden
Function typesPhD positions
Scientific fieldsNatural Sciences, Health
Hours 38.0 hours per week
Salary maximum € 2612
EducationUniversity Graduate
Job number 12-169
Translations
Apply for this job within 35 days

Job description

Tumors often display altered metabolic characteristics that are exclusive to the cancer cells and thus, can be targeted for efficient treatment.
The zebrafish is emerging as a valid model to study processes underlying cancer and provides an ideal setting to conduct chemical genetic screens for synthetic lethal interactions in the intact organism.
The tumor suppressor LKB1 is mutated in a familial cancer-predisposition syndrome and in over 30% of lung adenocarcinomas, one of the most common human tumors with a very poor prognosis. LKB1 is a serine-threonine kinase that phosphorylates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key energy checkpoint in the cell. AMPK activation leads to growth suppression through several pathways including inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Human tumors with LKB1 mutations exhibit fast metabolic rate, increased invasiveness and poor prognosis. We have recently shown that Lkb1 is critical to maintain energy homeostasis in zebrafish. lkb1 zebrafish mutants are embryonic-viable (in contrast to mice), exhibit deregulated metabolism and fast metabolic rate, a characteristic of tumors cells.
We will use our lkb1 zebrafish model as a discovery platform in chemical genetic synthetic-lethal screens and to resolve the LKB1 network in control of metabolism.

Requirements

You must be a motivated enthusiastic researcher with a degree (drs./MSc) in the domain of Biomedical Sciences and/or related subject and have a strong interest in the fields of Developmental biology, cancer biology, molecular genetics. You have demonstrated a strong interest in an academic career through your publication record and prior engagement in collaborative research and teaching. Furthermore you have excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal and are expected to master the Dutch language sufficiently.

Conditions of employment

We offer a vibrant environment to develop on-the-job the skills and networks that a successful academic needs.
Appointment will be according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten), for a period of one year with an extension of three years after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility. Ultimately the appointment must lead to a completion of a PhD thesis. During your appointment you will be supervised by Dr. Anna-Pavlina Haramis as your co-promotor.
The gross monthly salary is set on € 2042,- in the first year up to € 2612,- in year four. An appointment with Leiden University includes a pension build-up and facilitates other benefits such as an annual holiday premium of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%.
All our PhD students are embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science www.graduateschools.leidenuniv.nl and the Research School Functional Ecology. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school.

Organisation

Leiden University
Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575). The University permeates the local surroundings; University premises are scattered throughout the city, and the students who live and study in Leiden give the city its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.
Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.

Additional information

The Faculty of Science of Leiden University focuses on excellent research and education in all its different disciplines. The overall theme of our faculty is our motto ‘Life Meets Science’. We stimulate multidisciplinary collaboration in the area of Bio-Sciences and are thus closely connected to the LUMC and Delft University of Technology. The Leiden University Faculty of Science is an inspiring place for state-of –the-art research and top quality education. Ambition, team spirit and dedication are at the heart of our success.
The Institute for Biology Leiden (IBL)
The Institute of Biology (IBL) is part of the Faculty of Science. It is located at the Leiden Bioscience Park in the recently completely refurbished Sylvius building, providing state-of-the-art facilities for biological research. It collaborates with neighboring institutes such as the Leiden University Medical Centre, the National Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, the Centre for Environmental Sciences and the Leiden Institute of Chemistry. The IBL unites two research clusters with staff focusing on the Molecular Biosciences and Evolutionary Biosciences, respectively. The Institute has a long tradition of excellence in fundamental research in a broad range of biological subjects. It fosters an international atmosphere with strong interactions among the various groups as well as with other departments from the Faculty of Science and other partners. The IBL contributes to the Faculty priority area ‘Bioscience: the Science Base of Health’. To strengthen its profile in this area, the Institute invites applicants that can contribute to the Institute’s theme: ‘Healthy Lives in a Changing Environment’.
For more information, please contact Dr. Anna-Pavlina Haramis:
Telephone: +31-(0)71 5274782,  email: a.haramis@biology.leidenuniv.nl.
Additionally, you can visit the websites of the Faculty of Science and IBL: www.science.leidenuniv.nl and www.science.leidenuniv.nl/index.php/ibl/haramis.
More information about employment at Leiden University can be found via: www.leiden.edu.

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