PhD student Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology

Join us!

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student to work on a research project funded by KWF Kankerbestrijding, which aims to investigate if and how the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway is a target for therapeutic intervention in breast cancer. Are you looking for a basic biomedical research project with clear clinical relevance? Do you want to understand how cancer cells can hijack a developmental signalling pathway?

Do you like a challenge? Then this might be the chance to satisfy your curiosity.

We have identified a complex biomarker (i.e. a multi-gene signature) that allows us to stratify breast cancer patients with different levels of WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activity. In the first half of the project, you will work in close collaboration with a bioinformatician (to be recruited) to further improve the specificity of our current gene signature. In the second half of the project, you will obtain proof-of-principle for the therapeutic intervention through WNT/CTNNB1 pathway modulation, both in vitro (using breast cancer cell lines) and in vivo (using patient derived xenografts).

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• Use multiple state-of-the-art experimental approaches to measure and manipulate WNT/CTNNB1 signalling (including mammalian cell culture, various molecular and cell biology techniques, CUT&RUN, RNA-seq, and PDX studies in mice);
• Perform your experiments in a systematic and well controlled manner;
• Keep accurate records by thoroughly documenting and organising your work;
• Stay on top of the relevant scientific literature;
• Discuss your work in our lab meetings, incorporate feedback and give input to others;
• Assist in teaching and supervise BSc/MSc students during their research internship;
• Participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training programme.

You will get the opportunity to

• Learn a wide variety of experimental and data analysis techniques;
• Build a network as part of our (inter) national collaborations;
• Present your work at (inter) national meetings;
• Continuously hone your academic, professional and personal skills;
• Contribute to the science communication and outreach activities of the lab.

You work well independently but are also willing to contribute to team efforts. You are a nice colleague with good communication skills. You use your organizational skills to ensure efficient planning and project management, enabling you to meet deadlines. Your work shows that you pay attention to detail, but you also have eye for the bigger conceptual picture. You draw on your critical thinking and problem-solving skills when needed.

Your experience and profile:

• a recent MSc degree in the biomedical sciences (or a related area);
• a strong interest in developmental, stem cell and cancer biology;
• affinity with WNT signaling and mammary gland biology;
• affinity with gene regulation and chromatin biology;
• a strong intrinsic motivation and aptitude for fundamental research (reflected by your training record);
• an Art. 9 qualification (or the willingness to become Art. 9 qualified);
• willingness to work with mice;
• willingness to supervise BSc and/or MSc students during their internship;
• fluent in English, both written and spoken.

If you are genuinely excited about this project and are willing and able to learn, then we offer you the environment to do so. However, it will work to your advantage if you already have some (hands-on) experience with one or more of the following: bioinformatics analyses (e.g. R, Python), mammalian cell culture, DNA cloning, CUT&RUN or ChIPseq, mouse handling, histology analyses.

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is June or July 2026. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings.

We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Based…