Offer: MSCA-DN eRaDicate - Treatment of Breast Cancer and Preventing Relapse

The Marie-Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network: “Innovative Ligands for Nuclear Receptors to Eradicate Cancer Relapse”, (eRaDicate) funded by the European Community is recruiting 11 young researchers.

The doctoral candidates (DCs) will be trained not only to perform original and independent research on an internationally competitive level but also to develop creative, critical, and entrepreneurial mind-sets, to be prepared for a wide spectrum of career opportunities.

eRaDicate is a doctoral network that combines training and research in almost equal parts. The network is built around a community of leading researchers and all DCs will be part of this community through secondments, training schools, eRaDicate events, and conferences. The research will be performed at 8 universities (Medical University of Vienna, University of Santiago de Compostela, University of Wroclaw, Medical University of Warsaw, University of Warsaw, University of Birmingham*, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Trinity College Dublin) and a company (TissueGnostics GmbH). The objective of the network is to understand the role of nuclear receptors, such as retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR), in cancer development and to design and synthesise highly innovative compounds targeting these receptors, to become therapies against cancer stem cell-driven relapse and metastasis. Furthermore, the DCs in the network will devise pre-formulation strategies for the compounds and develop a novel, deep learning-based cancer analysis and diagnostics method.

After having completed their studies and the eRaDicate programme, this innovative and multidisciplinary training will qualify this new generation of scientists not only for an academic career but also for working in the industry and beyond.

See also www.eradicate-project.eu for more details.

General job description

• manage and carry out the individual research project
• participate in the eRaDicate training and network activities
• take PhD courses
• write scientific articles and the PhD thesis
• participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings
• research stay at external research laboratories or company sites
• disseminate the research outcomes
• participate in the undergraduate teaching of students
   

Research project: Treatment of Breast Cancer and Preventing Relapse

The DC will perform biological basic research on cancer in vitro and in vivo at the CIMUS-University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

To investigate whether nuclear receptor ligands alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, can be used for breast cancer treatment and prevent metastasis.

• The DC will perform in vitro experiments with commercially available and patient-derived cancer cells and tumor spheroids to establish an efficacy profile of the compounds.
• The DC will develop a zebrafish-based metastasis model for breast cancer and validate their in vitro results using this model.
• The DC will test effective compounds in xenograft mouse models.
• The DC will work closely with other DCs and test novel compounds when available.

Principal techniques employed in this project: 2D and 3D cell culture, molecular/cellular biology techniques, image analysis (TissueFAXS technology), in vivo xenograft models (mice, zebrafish).

Starting date: 1 October 2024.

Requirements

Research Field: Medical sciences » Cancer research
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
 

Skills/Qualifications
General requirements for admission into eRaDicate:

• Applicants must be eligible (see eligibility criteria below).
• Applicants must hold a BSc, MSc, or equivalent degree in a related subject area, as required by the specific host organization (see below).
• Applicants must have the necessary academic skills and background to make the success of a doctoral degree. The skills needed are project-specific.
• Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in written and spoken English (host organization-specific requirements apply).
• Applicants must work exclusively and full-time for the PhD research project. The applicants must not have any additional (part-time) jobs.
• Applicants must fulfil the requirements of the recruiting institutions.

Furthermore, all future DCs of eRaDicate should demonstrate:

• A high willingness to travel.
• Independent problem-solving skills.
• High resilience and flexibility.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Integrity, team spirit, dedication to science and learning, dependability, punctuality, pro-activity.
• Interest in working in an intersectoral, interdisciplinary team and learning new techniques, methods, etc. also outside their comfort zone.
• A high competence level in scientific writing and public speaking as required by the discipline of the project.
• Proficiency with computers, office, web-based learning.
• Willingness to participate in outreach activities, conferences, extracurricular events, etc.
   

Specific Requirements:

Required:

• Master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related subject.
• Experience with cell culture models, gene expression assays, and general molecular biology techniques.
• Knowledge of principles of cancer biology.
• Ability and readiness to perform animal studies.
• Willingness to teach, train, and supervise undergraduate and MSc students.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English (IELTS 6, CEFR B2 or equivalent; proof required), Spanish is a plus.
• Applicants must be eligible to enrol in the PhD Programme at the host institution.
   

Desired:

• Experience with zebrafish is a major plus.
• Experience with cancer studies, esp. breast cancer is a plus.
• A completed animal handling course is a plus.
• Experience with mice, cytometry, bioinformatics, and organoids is a plus.
   

Languages:
ENGLISH: Level>>Excellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria:

The applicant must comply with the following criteria to be eligible for any project in eRaDicate:

• Applicants must fulfil the mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. (Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account.) Proof required.
• Applicants must not hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree. (M.D. is eligible).
• Applicants must not have a conflict of interest with their future supervisors (family, relationship, economic interest…).
   

Selection process:

The eRaDicate selection procedure for DCs will be open, transparent, merit-based and in line with the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

The recruitment process consists of an initial written application. Eligible applications will be ranked by a selection committee.

Those not selected will be informed. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews at the selected host institution(s), preferably online, or where possible, in person. A further round of interviews may be required.

Interviewed candidates will be ranked and invited to join eRaDicate in order of their ranking. This process may take a few weeks. We will keep a small number of candidates on a reserve list just in case candidates pull out before the final recruitment stage. Successful candidates will be informed as soon as possible after the interview.

Successful candidates will be subsequently enrolled into the PhD programmes of the respective universities. This is a separate process that may require additional documentation and possibly qualifications like language tests. These will be made known to candidates.

MSCA will cover three years of full-time research, but the final contract length and extension options will depend on the host institution.

eRaDicate pursues a policy of equal opportunities on matters of gender and disability.

Website for additional job details: https://www.eradicate-project.eu/