Cancer treatment in patients with paediatric brain tumours leads to long-lasting side effects, including a decline in cognitive function. The present PhD project focuses on the role of the neuroimmune response in the development of radiotherapy-induced neurological decline and endocrine dysfunction, and provides exposure to a range of subjects ranging from molecular cell biology, bioinformatics to behavioural neuroscience. The PhD student will carry out a variety of tasks, involving in vitro laboratory experiments (e.g. cell and organoid culture), bioinformatics (e.g. single nuclei and spatial transcriptomics) and in vivo animal studies (largely behavioural tests). This position will be supported by a research technician working on the same project.

We are looking for an excellent, highly motivated candidate with strong laboratory skills and preferably with a background in neuroscience, biology, bioinformatics or related fields.

Your salary will be a minimum of € 3.017,- gross per month in the first year and a maximum of € 3.824,- gross per month (scale PRO) in the final (4th) year, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

See website: https://bscs.umcg.nl/en/people/lara-barazzuol/

The application form requires:
- A short motivation letter; please include why you are interested in this position.
- A copy of your CV.
- The names and contact information of two references.

Medische Oncologie

The University of Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) offer an excellent working environment for high quality biomedical research and scientific training. The PhD student will be appointed at the Dept. of Radiation Oncology at the UMCG, while working within the section of Molecular Cell Biology at the Dept. of Biomedical Sciences.
This PhD position is headed by Dr. Lara Barazzuol and is part of a collaborative, international, multi-disciplinary project funded by the SU2C-CRUK Paediatric Cancer New Discoveries Challenge, which comprises several institutions including the UMCG. The group of Dr. Lara Barazzuol is investigating the side effects of cancer treatment on the brain with a particular focus on radiotherapy-induced neurocognitive dysfunction and DNA repair-associated neurodegenerative diseases, and understanding how this knowledge can be exploited in the clinic.

Dr. Lara Barazzuol
l.barazzuol@umcg.nl