Postdoctoral position in a project on Cancer Biology - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

Postdoctoral position in a project on Cancer Biology: From Cellular Imaging to Structural Biology 

This position is part of the Faculty of Medicine's strategic investment in innovative and cross-border research. We are looking for a full-time postdoctoral fellow for two years for a research project where studies of oncogenic signaling pathways that control cancer cells' ability to divide cells and metastasize for prostate cancer take place in a translational project group. Last application date is 13 June 2022.

Project description
The project is part of a multidisciplinary collaboration between four research groups that aims to understand at the molecular level how two kinases control tumor progression and metastasis of prostate cancer. The project includes investigating how the Transforming Growth Factor β Type I receptor (TβRI) and Aurora kinase B (AURKB) interact during cell division in cancer cells. The significance of these kinases for tumor growth in preclinical and clinical cancer models, will be studied. The project is translational and includes studies of recombinant proteins using structural biology, in vitro cell cultures using preclinical cancer models, real-time imaging using Sartorius IncuCyte S5 technology, artificial intelligence and data-driven life science, confocal microscopy and studies in human tumor materials. The project aims to develop better predictive biomarkers for early detection of advanced prostate cancer but also to develop improved treatment strategies for aggressive prostate cancer.

Work duties and respoonsibilities
The work duties and respobsibilities include laboratory work with studies of how TβRI and AURKB affect each other and thereby the ability of cancer cells to cell division and invasiveness using preclinical cancer models and advanced imaging technology of cells using Sartorius IncuCyte S5 and other methods. The work is complemented by in vitro studies for interaction, which includes the production of recombinant proteins for structural biology, transient transfections of cell lines with mutated genes such as using CRISPR-Cas9 technology for a molecular understanding to understand the function of these kinases. In the long term, we want to understand how the oncogenic signaling pathways they activate in cancer cells can be inhibited. The work therefore requires close collaboration between different subject areas, see below.

Eligibility
To qualify for this postdoctoral position, applicants must have a doctoral degree, or a foreign degree that is deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree, in cell biology, molecular biology, molecular pathology, structural biology or biochemistry. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time when the appointment decision is made.

Applicants who have defended their dissertations in one of the following two defined areas will be considered for the position:

1) Cellular imaging in real time. For this specialization, the candidate is expected to have a solid competence in data analysis and to either possess or want to develop competence in AI-driven data analysis.

2) Structural biology and biochemistry. Within this competence orientation, a candidate is expected to have a PhD in structural biology (either X-ray crystallography or cryo electron microscopy) and possess a strong competence in biochemistry.

The applicant must have solid knowledge and deep experience of traditional biological laboratory methods in any of the fields of cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or structural biology.

Additional desirable qualifications
Since employment as a postdoctoral fellow constitutes a merit-based employment for junior researchers, we are primarily interested in applicants who have completed their doctorate degree no more than three (3) years from last application date. Applicants who have completed their degree prior to this, may be considered if special circumstances exist. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, appointments of trust for a trade union organisation or other similar circumstances, and for relevant duties/assignments within the subject area.

It is very meritorious if you have experience of independent work with cell biology such as live-cell imaging and AI-driven data analysis, molecular pathology, tumor biology, structural biology. In addition, it is desired that one has worked with structural biological methods and issues. Knowledge of genetic experimental methods such as transfections, cloning and the ability to produce recombinant proteins is desirable. Knowledge of how kinases are activated is also meritorious or experience of studies of predictive biomarkers in human tumor materials is meritorious. It is also important if you have previous experience of confocal microscopy or, for example, flow cytometry to study cell cycle and genetic stability.

More about the employment
The employment is a fixed-term employment full-time for two years in accordance with the terms of the agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral fellow starting as soon as possible or by agreement.

More information about the groups' research can be read on our website:

The project is run in Landström's research group at the Department of Medical Biosciences,
https://www.umu.se/forskning/grupper/tgf-beta-signaling--tumor-biology-in-prostate-cancer/ and in close collaboration between research groups at the Department of Chemistry:

Wolf-Watz research group https://www.umu.se/nyheter/vetenskapligt-samfund-intervjuar-professor-magnus-wolf-watz_10846542/, https://www.umu.se/personal/magnus-wolf-watz/

Sauer Erikssons research group https://www.umu.se/forskning/grupper/elisabeth-sauer-eriksson-lab/

Tryggs research group https://www.umu.se/personal/johan-trygg/, https://www.umu.se/forskning/grupper/johan-trygg-lab/.

Application
The application must contain:

• A short description of the research interests and motivation for why you are interested in the position.
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• List of publications.
• Diplomas from postgraduate education and other relevant degrees.
• Contact information for two reference persons.

The application, written in Swedish or English must be submitted via our e-recruitment system, Varbi. Deadline for submission of application for this position is 13 June 2022.

We look forward to receiving your application!