Postdoc in Translational Precision Oncology

The Department of Clinical Medicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Postdoc in the field of translational precision oncology as per 1 July 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years.

As a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Clinical Medicine, you will be part of what is probably the largest health science research department in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all the medical specialities and takes place in close collaboration with the university hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We have approx. 30,000 square metres of modern research facilities for experimental surgery and medicine, animal facilities and also advanced scanners at our disposal. The department has overall responsibility for the Master's degree programs in medicine and in molecular medicine. At the department we are approx. 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will be working at Aarhus University Hospital or another hospital in the Central Denmark Region. You can read more about the department https://clin.au.dk/ and about the faculty https://health.au.dk/  

The project is based at the Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA), Aarhus University Hospital,working closely with Associate Prof. Maria Rusan, as well as with collaborators working on CRISPR-based techniques at the Dept. of Biomedicine, Aarhus University. The research group is just starting up and is devoted to leveraging omics-based and functional precision medicine approaches to identify biomarkers of response and resistance, and to develop novel therapeutic strategies to circumvent resistance in cancer. MOMA is at the forefront of cancer genomics research, as well as in the development of bioinformatic tools, and furthermore serves as a diagnostic NGS core and as the National Center for Whole Genome Sequencing West under the Danish National Genome Center. MOMA furthermore has numerous ongoing collaborations with leading laboratories worldwide.

About the research project

Oncogenic fusions involving the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase genes are detected in both adult and pediatric cancers, including in 1% of a broad range of common cancer types such as lung and breast, and in 90% of several rare tumour types (i.e., congenital infantile fibrosarcoma). Small molecule inhibitors targeting these fusions have recently been approved and result in dramatic treatment responses. Major clinical challenges however remain, with a significant proportion of patients presenting with intrinsic resistance and acquired resistance inevitably developing in the remaining patients within a few years, resulting in high mortality. The purpose of the project is to characterize resistance mechanisms to these novel inhibitors, employing CRISPR-based resistance screens, chronic drug exposure experiments, and patient samples, and develop strategies for tackling these to improve patient outcomes. 

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in Translational Precision Oncology your position is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance. Some aspects of the projects will be performed at the Dept. of Biomedicine, at Aarhus University Hospital.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Extensive in-vitro laboratory work, focused primarily on cell culture techniques (including pooled CRISPR and/or ORF screens, validation of resistance candidates, chronic drug exposure experiments)
• Assistance with establishment of patient-derived cellular models and organoid models
• May also include analysis of bulk and single cell sequencing data (DNA and RNAseq) from resistant clones and patient samples, as well as spatial transcriptomics of tumour tissue
• Co-supervision of master students/PhD students

You will report to Associate Professor Maria Rusan.  

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level, for example within molecular medicine or molecular biology, or similar.

Additionally, the following qualifications and skills will be advantageous:

• Previously published peer-reviewed articles in international journals
• Laboratory experience, in particular with cell culture techniques, CRISPR-based techniques, drug screens
• Background in molecular and/or cell biology and/or cancer biology
• Prior experience with analysis of sequencing data is desirable
• Fluent in oral and written English

As a person, you are collaborative and contribute to a positive and fruitful work environment, are detail-oriented, self-motivated and capable of working independently, and are passionate about driving translational cancer research forward.

In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet

these academic criteria

.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Maria Rusan tel.: (+45) 60794940.

Your place of work will be the Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA), Science Center Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej 21, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Some of the work will be carried out at the Dept. of Biomedicine, Aarhus University.

We expect to conduct interviews April 29-May 3, 2024.

The position start date is flexible, however ideally between July, 2024 – Sept. 2024.

Terms of employment

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - postdoc
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan can be uploaded (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s

Guidelines for applicants

.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services

here

. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources

here

.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.