PhD student position

Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences is recruiting PhD student to the NCN OPUS 21 project entitled „Role of GAB glutaminase in glioblastoma” (2021/41/B/NZ5/01883).

Leader: dr hab. Monika Szeliga

The project:

A growing body of evidence suggests that GAB glutaminase acts as a tumor suppressor. Our previous studies clearly indicate that: i) glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant glial tumor, lacks GAB; ii) transfection of GBM cells with a GAB sequence inhibits their survival, proliferation, migration, and sensitizes them to oxidative stress and temozolomide, a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for GBM.

The main objective of this project is to elucidate the molecular determinants of tumor-suppressive properties of GAB observed in GBM cells and examine the influence of GAB transfection on the phenotype of GBM cells in in vivo settings. The main hypothesis of this project, supported by preliminary results and data from the literature, is that transfection with a GAB sequence suppresses malignant phenotype of GBM cells by modulation of the transcriptome/miRNome and/or proteome of these cells. Results from this project will enrich the existing knowledge about the role of GAB in GBM cells.

Location and duration:

Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, 02-106 Poland, Pawinskiego Street 5 (http://www.imdik.pan.pl ).

PhD student will be recruited for 40 months with the stipend according to NCN recommendations (introduced by the Resolution of the NCN Council No. 25/2019 of March 14, 2019 (uchwala69_2019_ang.pdf), starting March 2023.

Requirements:

• M.Sc. or equivalent in biology, biotechnology, medicine or other related subjects
• Knowledge of cell and molecular biology methods (including cell culture, cell assays, DNA/RNA techniques, qPCR, western blotting, immunocytochemistry)
• Very good command of English and practice in scientific writing/presentation of scientific data in English
• Communication skills, openness to new challenges, very good organization of laboratory work, creative and analytical thinking
• Experience in small animal research will be highly appreciated