PhD Student

Job description

Open position PhD student spatial cancer genomics

We are looking for a motivated and ambitious PhD student to work on a project entitled “Spatial mapping of mutant clones to understand the role of interclonal competition in human carcinogenesis”, under the joint supervision of Prof. Jimmy Van den Eynden and Prof. Jo Vandesompele at Ghent University, Belgium.

The aim of the PhD project is to develop a microarray-based spatial genomics platform to visualize mutations in cancer genes (e.g., TP53 and NOTCH1) in their full tissue context. These mutations underly clonal alterations and their spatial visualization allows the identification of patterns indicative of clonal competition.

The engineering part of the project will be performed in the OncoRNALab of Prof. Jo Vandesompele (https://oncornalab.ugent.be/) and builds on previous experience gained with the development of a microarray-based spatial transcriptomics platform. The focus will be on the development of a novel targeted library preparation protocol.

The sampling and data-analysis part of the project will be performed in the CCGG lab of Prof. Jimmy Van den Eynden (https://ccgg.ugent.be/) and connects to ongoing research on the role of mutant clones in tumor evolution. The lab has a large normal and tumor tissue collection and has a long track record of cancer genomics research. A dedicated and powerful computational infrastructure is available.

The selected candidate will be offered a full-time 4-year PhD position. He/she will be encouraged and supported to apply for additional external funding.

Job profile

• Applicants should hold a MSc degree in bio(medical)engineering, biomedical sciences or equivalent. Master students who obtain such a degree later this academic year are also encouraged to apply.
• Candidates should have a strong interest in wet lab method development
• A strong background in (cancer) molecular biology is required.
• Knowledge of cancer biology/genomics and basic bioinformatics programming skills (e.g., R or Python) are considered important assets.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills are required; knowledge of Dutch is a plus (but can be obtained during the project)
• Applicants should be able to work in team as well as independently and have a critical and creative mindset.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on February 1, 2025 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

How to apply

Applications including a CV and motivation letter (detailing why you are a good fit) should be sent electronically to Prof. Jimmy Van den Eynden (jimmy.vandeneynden@ugent.be).
The evaluation of the applicants starts in January 2025 and continues until the position is filled. Preselected candidates will be invited for an (online) interview. Starting date will be determined in agreement with the selected candidate.