PhD Candidate

PhD candidate
100%

Start of employment: as of now or by agreement

The Department for Biomedical Research DBMR is a research department of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bern, Switzerland with the mission to provide the researchers of the Inselspital (Bern University Hospital) with the best possible environment and infrastructures. Our aim is to bridge laboratory- based and biomedical patient-oriented clinical research.

The Precision Oncology lab led by Prof. Mark Rubin is focused on finding new vulnerabilities in androgen resistant prostate cancer and developing therapies to combat most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

Position Description
We are currently seeking a highly motivated and qualified Doctoral Candidate aiming to pursue a PhD thesis within an European Marie Sklodowska- Curie Actions Doctoral Network researching Macrophage Targets for Metastatic Treatment (Mac4Me). Mac4Me is aimed at understanding the specific tumour cell-immune host interactions at the metastatic site to identify new immune targets. Mac4Me will use animal-free organ-on-chip (OoC) systems to recapitulate early liver, bone and brain metastasis of cancer developing across our life, such as neuroblastoma, breast and prostate cancer. Data from these preclinical models will be integrated with real-world clinical data using AI approaches to identify new immune targets. Mac4Me offers a unique and innovative research training program comprising both scientific knowledge and transferable skills and integrating participatory science principles as a starting point.

Mac4Me consist of multidisciplinary team of academic and non-academic partners across multiple countries in Europe. The PhD candidate will work in close collaboration with the other candidates through a highly diverse educational agenda of online and face-to-face meetings. Importantly, each PhD has planned short-stay research visits to partners as an integral part of their PhD program.

• integrate organ-resident microglia into an established mini-brain model
• identify changes in microglia and matrix induced upon interaction with prostate cancer cells in mini-brain model
• test selected macrophage- targeted compounds to interfere with prostate cancer cell survival and invasion into the mini-brain model

• Master’s degree in cell biology or a related field
• Skilled in mammalian cell culture, including stem cells and patient-derived organoid models
• Independent, organized and detail-oriented
• Strong communication skills in English
• Eligible under MSCA mobility rule (have not spent more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment in Switzerland)

• Employment according to the regulations of the Canton Bern and enrolment in the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences
• Collaboration with other Doctoral Candidates of the network
• Attractive workplace in a new research building in the city of Bern, Switzerland
• Use of the university sports facilities

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