Postdoc Understanding tumor-immune interactions peritoneal metastasized cancer

Cancer cells orchestrate a tumor-supportive environment by recruiting and reprogramming non-cancerous host cells and by remodeling the vasculature. This dynamic process depends on interactions between cancer cells and resident (or recruited) non-cancerous cells, such as immune cells, of the tumor microenvironment. We have recently characterized the immune environment of gastrointestinal peritoneal metastases (the Peritoneal Immune system (PerIS)), as well as the tumor immune microenvironment of peritoneal metastases.

In the current project, you aim at understanding how these immune-related factors contribute to poor prognosis and resistance to therapy of peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal origin. The overarching aim is to find novel immunomodulatory treatment options for patients with peritoneal metastasized cancer. In this project, you will use innovative approaches, including scRNA-sequencing, single cell spatial transcriptomics, and functional in vivo and in vitro models.

As a postdoctoral reseacher, you will conduct cutting-edge research combining wet lab and dry lab techniques in equal measure.

• In the wet lab: you will perform co-culturing experiments as well as in vivo animal models for peritoneal metastasized colorectal and gastric cancer. You will use flowcytometry, multicolor immunohistochemistry, scRNA-sequencing and single cell spatial transcriptomics, for example.
• In the dry lab: you will focus on bioinformatics and data analysis, with a strong emphasis on (single-cell) RNA-seq analysis.

Your main goal will be to uncover novel therapeutic targets for peritoneal metastasized disease. You will collaborate with the Department of Medical Oncology, Surgery and you will be embedded within Oncode Institute.

• You have a PhD in a field related to biomedical sciences, (immune)oncology, immunology or bioinformatics;
• You are an experienced scientist in the field of immunology and/or oncology;
• You have experience with bioinformatics and big data analysis (single-cell transcriptomics)
• You possess excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken;
• You are an enthusiastic team player with positive social skills;
• Experience with bioinformatics (e.g., in R/Python);
• An art.9 or equivalent FELASA diploma