1. You must hold a Ph.D. degree in life sciences, medicine, biotechnology, biosciences, biomedicine, or equivalent related fields from a recognized university.
2. You have a background in cancer biology, immunology, and/or metabolism.
3. You have experience working with mouse models and mammalian cell cultures, molecular biology techniques (cloning, western blot, qPCR..), and immunology analysis.
4. Experience with bioinformatics (e.g., analysis of large-scale omics datasets) or spatial biology is a strong advantage.
5. You are highly motivated and independent.
6. You work well in a team.
7. You have experience in coordinating multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
8. You have a solid publication record in this field.
9. You are fluent in English.
The selected candidate will have the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of cancer metastasis, spatial biology, immunology, and metabolism. The candidate is expected to:
10. Design and execute high-quality, hypothesis-driven experiments.
11. Collaborate closely with and help supervise PhD students, technicians, and master’s students involved in the project.
12. Manage and coordinate project timelines and ensure the successful achievement of key milestones.
13. Contribute to data interpretation and play an active role in preparing publications and presentations from team projects.
14. Engage in national and international collaborations.
15. Present research findings at seminars, workshops, and international conferences
16. Design and execute high-quality experiments.
17. Closely collaborate and supervise PhDs, technicians, and master students involved in the project.
18. Effectively manage projects, ensuring their successful completion and timely achievement of milestones
19. Help with data interpretation and play a key role in the publication of the results of team collaborative projects.
20. Engage in national and international collaborations.
21. Present research findings in seminars and international conferences.
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by enhancing the immune system's anti-cancer capabilities. Despite its success, the heterogeneous response among patients and the distinct sensitivity observed in primary tumors versus metastases necessitate a more profound understanding. Recent studies have pinpointed metabolic pathways as vulnerabilities within the tumor's immune microenvironment. However, the impact of local nutrient conditions on metabolic reprogramming and T cell function remains largely unexplored. To tackle this gap, our laboratory is dedicated to unraveling the metabolic competition between T cells and tumor cells in distinct metabolic niches. Our objective is to modulate their metabolic activity, promoting T cell infiltration into metabolically challenging areas where immune cells can effectively eliminate tumor cells, achieving a comprehensive response to immunotherapy. Employing cutting-edge techniques such as imaging mass spectrometry, multiplex flow cytometry, and 13C tracer analysis, our research aims to contribute crucial insights to the field.
22. A stimulating and international research environment.
23. Work at the forefront of tumor immunometabolism on an ERC-funded project, leveraging cutting-edge approaches such as spatial metabolomics, immune profiling, and humanized mouse models.
24. Numerous training opportunities and possibilities to collaborate with core facilities and leaders in the field.
25. A full-time contract for a year with the possibility of extension for (at least) two more years provided a positive evaluation. You are encouraged to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship.
26. KU Leuven is among Europe’s most innovative universities, located in the vibrant and historic city of Leuven, just 20 minutes from Brussels.