Postdoctoral Scientist : Heidelberg, Germany

The German Cancer Research Center is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. With more than 2,700 employees, we operate an extensive scientific program in the field of cancer research.

The Division of Applied Functional Genomics is seeking a

Postdoctoral Scientist
(Ref-No. 128/2015)

Description:
The section “Applied Functional Genomics” (Head: Prof. Claudia Scholl) at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) focuses on the identification and characterization of different cancers' functional dependencies in the context of their molecular anatomy, with the goal to translate basic science discoveries into targeted cancer therapies. Comprehensive genomic analyses uncover numerous genomic regions affected by amplification, deletion, or mutation. However, the biological relevance of most of the genes identified in such studies remains unclear since related functional studies are lacking. This problem will be addressed within a new program that aims to systematically annotate the function and relevance of genes altered in cancer. The successful candidate will be responsible for the implementation of this program, which aims to connect cancer genome variants to their function in cellular networks.
Studies include, but are not limited to, (i) the establishment of isogenic cellular models by engineering genetic alterations using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and/or lentiviral gene and shRNA transfer, followed by extensive phenotypic characterization (e.g. assaying for invasion, migration, anchorage-independent growth, proliferation, and tumor growth in mice); and (ii) large-scale functional screens using shRNA orCRISPR/Cas9 libraries to identify genetic co-dependencies and functional networks.

Your profile:
The successful candidate is a highly motivated, ambitious, hard-working individual with excellent grades who enjoys working in an international team and is passionate about making a difference through cancer research. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field and have a track record of excellent first-author publications. The ideal candidate has expertise in molecular and cellular biology, with specific focus on the techniques described above, is highly self-motivated, and able to pursue research projects independently. Experience in the bioinformatic analysis of genome-wide functional or structural screens is advantageous. Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English are mandatory.