Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular and Cellular Biology

(ref. BAP-2021-778)

Laatst aangepast : 8/11/2021

The team of Prof. Pascale Zimmermann is looking for a postdoctoral scientist to characterize molecular mechanisms governing the biology of extracellular vesicles and to help developing next-generation vectorized therapeutic exosomes. Pascale Zimmermann is professor at the KU Leuven and Research Director at Inserm. She was trained as a pharmacist and completed a PhD degree at the Christian de Duve Institute at U.C.L Belgium. She subsequently trained and held research positions in Belgium, Austria and France. Her team is currently holding research activities in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Leuven in Belgium and at the Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille & Institut Paoli-Calmettes in France. The scientific interests of the team are to reveal how membrane-associated scaffold proteins and lipids participate in cell signaling and multicellular organization/homeostasis. The team provided major contributions to our understanding of the importance of membrane trafficking for the biology of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, the role of phospholipids in the function of PDZ proteins and the molecular mechanisms of exosome biogenesis and turnover. The team is part of the buoyant EMBO young investigator program and other pertinent networks. The current focus of the team is to clarify the role of syndecan-PDZ molecular networks in extracellular vesicle function and diversity, the role of the syntenin pathway (a viral-like exosomal pathway) in tumor-host relationships during leukemia progression and relapse, and to contribute to the rational development of therapeutic exosomes in various disease contexts.

Responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to explore the intersection between academic teaching, fundamental research and translational medicine. You will be part of a young and international research team with innovative research projects and will lead the:

• Exploration of molecular mechanisms governing exosomal cell-cell communication by structure-function studies
• Imaging of exosome biogenesis and uptake
• In vitro and in vivo functional assays with exosomes
• Making of recombinant proteins and testing for direct interactions
• Supervision of master students

Profile

It is important to have an independent problem-solving academic mindset. Publications are a high priority. Your profile should include:

• Recent (preferably max. 3y) Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular biology or Biochemistry with excellent publication record in high ranked journals
• Experience with protein production and characterization
• Experience with immunofluorescence staining
• Experience with confocal and high-resolution microscopy
• Experience with BIAcor and/or FACS is an asset
• Excellent communicator in English, written and verbal, Dutch or French is an asset
• Social and result-driven personality
• Ability to work and thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional, team-orientated environment

Offer

Excellent training conditions within a team of experts in the field of extracellular vesicles

• The opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary international cutting-edge research lab
• Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure including core facilities
• A dynamic working environment and a stimulating scientific surrounding in a young, enthusiastic, motivated team
• A 3-year position, with an initial contract of 1 year.

Starting as soon as possible.

Interested?

How to apply?

Applications for this position should be submitted online and contain:

•Complete CV

•Motivation letter

•List of publications

•Summary of past research

•Contact information or reference letters of 2 or 3 referees

If you have questions about this position, please contact Prof. Pascale Zimmermann ([email protected]), ref: postdoc-mol cell biol 202

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