Host institution: Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Host department: Department of Urology, Experimental Urology Laboratory
Supervisors: Prof. dr. Guido Jenster (proEVLifeCycle coordinator) and Dr. Martin van Royen

Project description
The PhD student at Erasmus MC will study the mechanism of EV uptake and EV production and develop methods and tools for EV manipulation for therapeutic intervention of PCa progression. The objectives include:

  • Development of a novel EV quantification microfluidics assay (EVQuant). This novel method should allow quick, easy and reliable quantification and characterization of EVs in biofluids;
  • Performing drug and genetic screenings for compounds that affect EV uptake and production;
  • Analyse the functional effects of EVs and the compounds that affect EV communication on prostate cancer progression using advanced organoid, tissue slice and animal models.

The ESR will work in Rotterdam in a multidisciplinary team of molecular and cell biologists, clinicians, technical experts and bioinformaticians under supervision of Dr. Martin van Royen and Prof. dr. Guido Jenster. The ESR will be involved in many different aspects of research and will work closely together with the other ESRs within the proEVLifeCycle network. Furthermore, the ESR will take part in training programs and workshops, as well as secondments at several of the other institutions within the networks.

The ESR will become member of the Erasmus MC Postgraduate School Molecular Medicine, which provides a broad range of personal and scientific training and educational courses for PhD students.

Type of contract
The ESR will be contractually employed on a full-time (36 hours per week), temporary basis (fixed term as long as the project is running (36 months)) by Erasmus MC and covered under the social security scheme.

Required expertise and skills in addition to the general eligibility criteria
You are an ambitious and highly motivated international candidate with a university MSc degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Medicine or a related field, and a special interest in (prostate) cancer and EV research. A successful candidate will have:

  • Outstanding theoretical and experimental research skills, with demonstrable laboratory experience;
  • Knowledge and preferable experience in molecular biology of (prostate) cancer, underlying signalling pathways, EV communication and application of drug screens;
  • Good communication skills and team spirit, reinforcing the collaborations within Erasmus MC and among the proEVLifeCycle participants;
  • Proficiency of (scientific) English in speech and writing.

Websites
Prof. dr. Guido Jenster: www6.erasmusmc.nl/47659/51019/1902385/1950836/GuidoJenster
Postgraduate School Molecular Medicine: www.molmed.nl

Contact details
For more information about this position, please contact:
Diana Brusik: d.brusik-vanhouten@erasmusmc.nl
Prof. dr. Guido Jenster: g.jenster@erasmusmc.nl
Dr. Martin van Royen: m.vanroyen@erasmusmc.nl