POSTDOC POSITION IN CANCER RESEARCH IN BERLIN AVAILABLE

in the lab of Prof. Clemens Schmitt (Charité and MDC)

Exploiting treatment responses in transgenic and humanized mouse models of lymphoma

We are interested in genetic programs and mutations, which impact on tumor development and sensitivity to anticancer therapies, in particular cellular senescence, apoptosis and autophagy. Utilizing transgenic mouse models, we generate primary lymphomas with defined genetic lesions (by intercrossing cancer-prone transgenics to knockout mice, and by retroviral gene transfer into established lymphoma cells or hematopoietic stem cells). These tumors are transplantable and undergo anticancer treatment at their natural sites. Using this tractable system, which recapitulates typical features of human Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, we study genetic, biochemical and metabolic effects of oncogenic action and drug responses in vivo.

We like to extend our transgenics-based platform of lymphoma mouse models by the innovative and technically challenging approach to generate humanized mouse models of lymphoma – namely mice in which we expand a human immune system plus the lymphoma cells derived from the same human patient, thereby utilizing the animal as a “bioreactor” for tumorbiological and therapeutic studies that address the lymphoma and its interaction with the local environment and the host immune system, all of human origin, but in the mouse. These studies, representing a key experimental step towards “personalized cancer medicine”, will be carried out within a project that belongs to the newly funded national mouse model network entitled “Preclinical Comprehensive Cancer Center”.

For information in greater detail please see, for example, Schmitt-CA et al., Nature Med. (2000), Schmitt-CA et al., Cancer Cell (2002), Schmitt-CA et al., Cell (2002), Braig-M et al., Nature (2005), Bouchard-C et al., Genes Dev. (2007), Reimann-M et al., Cancer Cell (2010), and Jing-H et al., Genes Dev. (2011). Our study group is embedded in a combined clinical and basic research campus, since its group leader is affiliated with both the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Charité-Virchow Campus (Humboldt-University) and the distinguished Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. Moreover, we are partner in the interdisciplinary German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (“DKTK”) and the International Graduate Program “Berlin School of Integrative Oncology (BSIO)”. Berlin is the scientific place to work, provides a very international environment and high life quality, and is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.

REQUIREMENTS

Join our highly motivated team if you are interested in creative approaches and novel strategies to develop novel, humanized mouse models of cancer. You hold a Ph.D. or equivalent, and you are familiar with all basic techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry and histology (i.e. cloning, analyses of proteins and DNA/RNA, cell culture, and immunohistochemistry).  Expertise in any of the following is preferred: genome-wide screens, RNA interference, retroviral/lentiviral vector design, inducible gene expression systems, proteomics/metabolomics, cellular bioenergetics, molecular, cellular or organismic imaging, work with immunocompromised mice, or generation of transgenics/knockout mice. Lab communication is in English. Please send your CV including a list of publications and two references/letters of recommendation to

Prof. Dr. Clemens A. Schmitt, M.D.

Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine and

Charité/Campus Virchow/Hematology-Oncology

Augustenburger Platz 1

D-13353 Berlin

Germany

e-mail clemens.schmitt@charite.de