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ORGANISATION/COMPANYUniversité Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
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RESEARCH FIELDMedical sciences › MedicinePharmacological sciences › Pharmacy
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RESEARCHER PROFILEFirst Stage Researcher (R1)
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APPLICATION DEADLINE30/06/2017 23:00 - Europe/Brussels
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LOCATIONBelgium › Brussels
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TYPE OF CONTRACTTemporary
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JOB STATUSFull-time
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HOURS PER WEEK38
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OFFER STARTING DATE01/10/2017
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EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMMEH2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
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REFERENCE NUMBERTUMETABO1
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MARIE CURIE GRANT AGREEMENT NUMBER722605
OFFER DESCRIPTION
TRANSMIT - TRANSlating the role of Mitochondria in Tumorigenesis
The consolidation of the knowledge that cancer is not only a genetic, but also a metabolic disease, has led scientists to investigate the intricate metabolic plasticity that transformed cells must undergo to survive the adverse tumor microenvironment conditions, and the contribution of oncogenes and tumor suppressors in shaping metabolism. In this scenario, genetic, biochemical and clinical evidences place mitochondria as key actors in cancer metabolic restructuring, not only because these organelles have a crucial role in the energy and biosynthetic intermediates production but also because occurrence of mutations in metabolic enzymes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA has been associated to different types of cancer. TRANSMIT aims to dissect the metabolic remodeling in human cancers, placing the focus on the role of mitochondria and bridging basic research to the improvement/development of therapeutic strategies. Further, TRANSMIT fosters the communication of this emerging field to the patients and their families. To these aims, TRANSMIT will create a network of seven different countries, among which world-leading basic science and clinical centers of excellence, several industrial partners with up-todate omics technologies, as well as non-profit foundations and associations who care for cancer patients. By creating the critical mass of scientific excellence, TRANSMIT will allow to transfer the current knowledge into the wide field of cancer research, translating scientific and technical advances into the education and training of eleven Early Stage Researchers. TRANSMIT will implement training-through-research dedicated to unravel the metabolic features of cancer, as well as to provide a full portfolio of complementary skills through the creation of a network of basic, translational and industrial laboratories, devoted to a multidisciplinary/multisectorial education of young scientists.
Project Description
Job Summary
The PhD student will conduct experimental research in the field of tumor metabolism. He/she will lead his/her own research program under the direction of Prof. Pierre Sonveaux and the direct supervision of a post-doc, with the assistance of a lab technician.
Job description
In primary tumors, natural selection is known to foster the emergence of metastatic progenitor cells. Because its thorough understanding could ultimately be translated in treatments aimed to prevent metastasis, the metastatic switch is the subject of intense investigation. In previous work, we tested whether mitochondrial metabolism could promote tumor metastasis. We identified two different metabolic alterations, a TCA cycle overload and bottlenecking of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), which trigger tumor cell migration, invasion, clonogenicity, metastatic take and, overall, spontaneous metastasis (Porporato PE et al., Cell Reports 2014;8:754-766). We further found that these pro-metastatic phenotypic features are primarily conferred by an enhanced mitochondrial production of mtROS in both systems, and can be countered with mitochondria-targeted ROS scavengers. For the open position, using our well established models, the PhD student will aim to identify the exact nature of mtROS promoting tumor metastasis, their molecular origin and the signaling pathways by which altered mitochondria drive the metastatic process. The combination of specific sensors, scavengers, antioxidants and RNA interference will allow him/her to discriminate specific activities of superoxide from that of H2O2. Mitochondrial dysfunctions will be traced back to mtDNA and ETC complexes abnormalities. Altered expression/activity of specific enzymes and proteins known to regulate TCA cycle and the coupling between ETC activity and ATP synthesis will be investigated. Finally, based on early evidence indicating that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family member Pyk2 executes at least in part the metastatic program triggered by mtROS, the PhD student will further characterize the activation of the mtROS-FAK axis in metastatic cancer cells, its inhibition by mtROS scavengers, and the consequences of its inhibition on the metastatic program in vitro and in vivo.
Subject area of PhD program in which the ESR will be enrolled and PhD program duration
PhD in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (3 years)
Host University that will provide the PhD degree
Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)
PhD program starting date
October 1st, 2017
Applications, in English, should include CV, detailed academic transcripts, a summary of the thesis (abstract), a motivation letter and a reference letter, which are all to be submitted as a single PDF file by email to c.remacle@uclouvain.be
More Information
Benefits
- 3-year employment contract (38 h/week) with a possibility of extension for a 4th year.
- Enrollment in a PhD school of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DFAR).
- A highly multidisciplinary, international and competitive training program in the field of metabolism in cancer.
- Secondments and a specific training programs at other host institutions that are member of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 722605 - TRANSMIT
- Vacation days/year: 24
Eligibility criteria
The applicants must be in possession of a Master degree at the date of recruitment - an ‘early stage researcher’ (i.e., in the first four years of his/her research career and not have a doctoral degree).
The applicant must be a national of an EU Member State, of an Associated Country or of any other Third Country as defined by the European Commission
The applicants not have resided in the country where the research training activities take place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country.
Selection process
First selection step: Curriculum evaluation. Numerical scores will be awarded for grading criteria such as study marks, duration of study, scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, reference letters. Only the admitted candidates will be contacted by e-mail for the second selection step.
Second selection step: Phone, skype or face-to-face interview in which candidates will give a short presentation of their master thesis and of a scientific paper that they will receive three weeks before the interview.
Additional comments
Offer Requirements
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REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVELPharmacological sciences: Master Degree or equivalentMedical sciences: Master Degree or equivalentBiological sciences: Master Degree or equivalent
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REQUIRED LANGUAGESENGLISH: Excellent
Skills/Qualifications
Good theoretical knowledge of Biochemistry in Oncology. Practical knowledge will be a plus. Applicants should demonstrate interest for anticancer research and their motivation to be integrated in an international research team.
Specific Requirements
Motivation
Open, Transparent, Merit based Recruitment procedures of Researchers (OTM-R)
Know more about it at Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Know more about OTM-R
EURAXESS offer ID: 194523
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Qualification: Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Biology and related fields
Salary: 23.000 Euro per annum + a mobility allowance of 7,200 Euro per annum
Employer: Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium
Job type: temporary: 3-year employment contract
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Contact for application: Claude Remacle (c.remacle@uclouvain.be)
Deadline for application: 30 June 2017
Evaluation period: 15 July 2017