1. Interaction of Wnt signalling, tumor development and mitosis
2. Consequences of chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in cancer cells

The department for Cellular Oncology (Professor Dr. rer.nat. Holger Bastians) at the Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) is focussing on cell biological investigations of signalling pathways involved in chromosome segregation during mitosis leading to chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in cancer.

We are currently looking for Ph.D. candidates with a strong interest and motivation to work in a challenging scientific environment. In particular, we are interested in investigating the role of the Wnt signalling pathway for the maintenance of chromosomal stability. We aim to identify novel functions of Wnt signalling components during mitotic cell division. This project will be funded by a collaborative research group in Göttingen (DFG funded Forschergruppe 942).

Additional positions are available that will focus on the consequences of aneuploidy in human cancer. Especially, we aim to adress the question why cancer cells can survive aneuploidy while non-transformed cells might possess mechanisms that select against an abnormal karyotype. This might constitute a novel so far unrecognized cell cycle checkpoint pathway that might function as a novel tumor suppressor mechanism.

We offer a brand-new lab environment with state-of-the-art equipment and technologies. Methods used in the lab include: immunofluorescence, confocal, deconvolution and life-cell microscopy (we use a brand-new Delta Vision Microscope), human tissue culture, si/shRNA transfections and screens, biochemical and cell biological enzyme assays, FACS analyes, etc.

Our group is part of two DFG funded research units in Göttingen (FOR942 and KFO179) and is supported directly by the Heisenberg program of the DFG.

Applications from excellent candidates with a strong background in Molecular Medicine, Human Biology or related areas are highly welcome.

Ph.D. candidates will have he opportunity to become part of the Göttingen graduate school that was just selected by the German excellence initiative. Further information of this highly sucessfull graduate school can be found at: http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/sh/56640.html

Please send you full CV including two names of possible referess and a brief description of your research experience and interests as a single pdf file to:
Prof. Dr. Holger Bastians
Email: holger.bastians@uni-goettingen.de
methods:
human tissue culture
state-of-the-art microscopy, life cell imaging
FACS analyzes
si / shRNA transfection / infection / screens
cell biology and molecular biology techniques

Arrival date: 1 August 2012

Estimated time: 3-4 years, starting date is flexible

Payment: according BAT

Publications:
e.g. Stolz et al., Nature Cell Biology 2010