Doctoral Researcher in the field of Targeting of RNA Polymerase II Gene Transcription in Cancer

Faculty of Medicine, Barborič laboratory, invites applications for a position of

Doctoral Researcher in the field of Targeting of RNA Polymerase II Gene Transcription in Cancer

for a fixed-term employment for 3 years starting in August 2024.

The mission of the lab is to unravel fundamental mechanisms that control the elongation phase of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in normal and disease states. We are particularly interested in essential and biomedically important cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that trigger release of Pol II from promoter-proximal pausing and facilitate productive Pol II elongation along genes. We aim to exploit the knowledge on basic principles of gene regulation to help devise nov-el treatments of many diseases that stem from misregulated gene transcription programs. More information about the lab, including the latest research and news, can be found here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/center-for-gene-regulation

We are looking for a creative thinker with strong analytical skills and a passion for science. We expect you to formu-late your own hypotheses, propose experimental design to address them, and take advantage of the laboratory/research community’s intellectual and skill resources to advance the knowledge of the field. The competitive candidate should hold MSc degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or related fields. Expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology is a pre-requisite for the position. In addition, we appreciate fluency in the anal-ysis of NGS data. Strong command in written and spoken English is required. The default assumption is that the degree requirement must be met by the beginning of the employment.

The successful candidate will receive training in biochemical, molecular biology and cell line-based functional assays, as well as cutting-edge systems biology methods, such as CRISPRi and nascent transcriptomics methods. current pro-jects, which are funded Cancer Foundation Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Instrumentarium Foundation, and The Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation, are focused on combinatorial targeting of transcriptional CDKs in cancer.

What we offer

The starting salary of the doctoral researcher will be appr. 2400 €/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. A trial period of six months will be applied. The University of Helsinki provides its staff with occupational health and sports services as well as professional development opportunities: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki/staff-benefits . The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. International staff is supported in relocating to Finland: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome .

Further degree requirement for doctoral researcher position: The appointee must apply, and obtain, the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki within the probationary period of 6 months: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-doctoral-programmes/how-apply-doctoral-education . More info on The Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine and The Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science can be found here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/doctoral-schools-and-programmes/doctoral-school-in-health-sciences .

Moreover, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to compete for the place in the newly established 3-year Doctoral Education Pilot Programme in Precision Cancer Medicine. More info on this programme can be found here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-school/doctoral-education-pilot .

How to apply
Please submit your application as a single pdf file, which includes the following documents in English:

• a motivation letter with a summary of your interests
• your CV
• and two letters of reference.

Applications should be submitted through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply now button.

Applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the SAP Fiori portal at https://msap.sap.helsinki.fi.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. You can read more about working at the university on our website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers .

The closing date for applications is April 19th 2024 at 23:59 EET. The shortlisted candidates will be notified about the interview shortly afterwards.

For further information on the position, please contact Matjaž Barborič, Ph.D.; matjaz.barboric (at) helsinki.fi

For information on the recruitment process, please contact HR Specialist Päivi Sinisalo; hr-ltdk (at) helsinki.fi.

Recent publications:

Wang Z et al. (2023) Inhibition of CDK12 elevates cancer cell dependence on P-TEFb by stimulation of RNA polymerase II pause release. Nucleic Acids Res 51(20):10970-10991
Wang Z et al. (2023) P-TEFb promotes cell survival upon p53 activation by suppressing intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Nucleic Acids Res 51(4):1687-1706
Bugai A et al. (2019) P-TEFb activation by RBM7 shapes a pro-survival transcriptional response to genotoxic stress. Molecular Cell 74(2): 254-267

About us
The Faculty of Medicine promotes high quality scientific research. It provides research-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, psychology and logopedics, and an international Master's Programme in Translational Medicine. It also offers psychotherapist education. In addition to its teaching and research activities, the faculty serves as a signifi-cant expert organisation in the healthcare sector and contributes to the discourse on ethics in the field. The faculty aims to be one of the best medical research faculties in the world, while reinforcing its status as a distinguished institution of multidisci-plinary education in healthcare.

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki constitutes the academic medical centre together with HUS Helsinki University Hospital and the Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE). This medical centre has been successful in international comparisons, ranking among the top 10 medical campuses in Europe and the top 50 globally.