Research technician - Multiple myeloma immune-metabolic profiling

Research technician - Multiple myeloma immune-metabolic profiling

Research technician position available - Unraveling the immune-metabolic landscape in multiple myeloma

The project

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by a broad range of immune evasion strategies, that result in abnormalities in immune cell (and particularly T-cell) responses. Cumulative exposure to several anti-MM drugs reduce T-cell numbers or induce functional T-cell defects. In addition, increasing evidence suggests that the MM microenvironment, which consists of several components, including BM stromal cells (BMSCs), immune suppressor cells and immunosuppressive molecules, promotes tumor growth, impairs immune responses and limits the efficacy of anticancer treatments including T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies.

So far, in depth understanding of the local and systemic immune dynamics during treatment with conventional flow cytometry has been restricted by the limited number of markers that can be detected simultaneously, imposing the need for large amount of input material. Most importantly, however, current immune profiling methods do not address the actual immune cell functional status.

Recently, it became clear that virtually all aspects of immune cell function, including differentiation, ...

About your role

The immune-metabolic profiling team you will be part of will:

1. Biobank blood and bone marrow samples from patients with multiple myeloma undergoing therapy with T cell-redirecting agents.
2. Use cutting-edge spectral flow cytometry and cellular and molecular biology techniques, to:

• determine how tumor cells influence the blood and bone marrow immune landscape and functional status in multiple myeloma;
• explore the alterations of the blood and bone marrow immune environment induced by anti-MM therapies (with a focus on T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies)
• explore which factors predict durable response or MRD-negativity;
• study the mechanisms underlying immune alterations with a particular focus on communication mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) using relevant in vitro 3D systems.

Your primary responsibilities, although not restricted to, will be to isolate cells from blood and bone marrow samples of patients with multiple myeloma and to support the spectral flow cytometry analysis of the samples. You will also be involved in organizational task including database ...

About you

We seek a highly motivated research technician who possesses excellent communication skills and is able to function well in a team.

On a daily basis, we receive varying amounts of patient material from multiple hospitals, Universities and institutes all over Europe. One of your main activities involves cell isolation from incoming patient (blood and bone marrow) samples. Moreover, you will be involved in the organizational part of the study, such as biobank management and contact with external colleagues. Therefore, you are well organized, consistent and extremely reliable in the lab. Furthermore, you will work in close collaboration with a young, active international research group and thus you feel comfortable with an international cross-disciplinary environment.

As an enthusiastic research technician you also have the following qualifications:

• Strong commitment and experience with patient sample (blood and bone marrow) processing;
• Experience with flow cytometry, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques is appreciated;
• Fluency in spoken English and proficiency ...

Our offer

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
• Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• A contract for 12 months with the intention to extend.
• Salary scale 7M: € 2.975 to € 4.214 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Holiday hours: 190,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

About your workplace

We are offering a position in the Department of Pathology (Tumor Microenvironment Research Group and Department of Hematology, within the Cancer Center Amsterdam of the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc.

In the laboratory, a wide array of techniques and systems are used to better understand and target the microenvironmental (immune) dynamics driving tumor progression. You will be offered a custom training in a vibrant scientific environment within a young, active international research group and will have the opportunity to work in close connection with biologists and clinical specialists.

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.

Let’s meet! During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact Rubina Baglio via s.baglio@amsterdamumc.nl.