Postdoc Metastatic Melanoma on Chip

Working at Amsterdam UMC

Postdoc Metastatic Melanoma on Chip

Develop a metastatic melanoma-on-chip (MMoC) combining our reconstructed human melanoma-in-skin model with draining lymphatics and a reconstructed lymph node, including the relevant immune subsets, to recapitulate early immune suppressive events followed by testing of an immune modulator.

The project

As the most aggressive form of skin cancer, melanoma is characterized by early immune suppression and metastasis. Systemic immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is effective for (over) half of the patients, but can cause at times severe autoimmunity. In order to further develop and test novel therapeutics aimed at immune potentiation of melanoma-conditioned tumor draining lymph nodes, specialized testing platforms are required.

This project aims to develop a metastatic melanoma-on-chip (MMoC), combining our reconstructed human melanoma-in-skin model with draining lymphatics and a reconstructed lymph node, including the relevant immune subsets, to recapitulate early immune suppressive events followed by testing of an immune modulator.

About your role

As a Post-Doc you will:

• Setup methods to establish the Metastatic Melanoma on Chip model;
• Assess functionality of the MMoC platform;
• Perform immune phenotyping of the model, and test immune modulators;
• Design and write scientific articles and present data on scientific conferences.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated teamplayer with:

• A recent PhD degree with experience in one or more of the following fields: biomedical sciences, tissue engineering, (tumor)-immunology or related fields. We are particularly looking for a starting post-doc;
• Experience with in vitro culture models, flowcytometry, tissue engineering and/or microfluidics is a pre;
• Team player with strong collaborative skills and proactive attitude;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Our offer

• Contract for 18 months, you will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• The position is graded in scale 10 (€3.493 - €5.504) gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 36 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• Vacation hours: 190,4 per year for fulltime and possibility to save additional hours.
• Free and unlimited access to our online learning environment GoodHabitz.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• A reimbursement of your public transport expenses. Do you prefer to come by bike? Then we have a good bicycle scheme.
• An active staff association and Jong Amsterdam UMC association, both of which organize fun (sports) activities and events.

About your workplace

You will perform research within the department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology and Medical Oncology, located in the vibrant environment of the O|2 Lab Building and at an international high competitive level. The department consists of several research groups that study cellular and molecular interactions in health and disease.

You will work in a team with young and enthusiastic researchers, who have ample experience in novel techniques in the field of immunology, tissue engineering, cell biology and cancer. Your work is embedded in the research institutes Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA) and Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases (AI&I). You will have the opportunity to participate in courses, congresses and grant opportunities organized by the CCA and AI&I. This study is supported by Health Holland and will be performed in close collaboration with Prof. Sue Gibbs, dr Jasper Koning, prof. dr. Reina Mebius and prof. dr. Tanja de Gruijl.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. This means that we hope that everyone feels welcome in our organization and that we strive to offer equal opportunities to everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy.

If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact dr. Jasper Koning via email: jj.koning@amsterdamumc.nl.