SCIENCE-JOBS-DE

2 Internship Positions in Cancer Research (Master students)

Available for 6 months (2017/2018) but can be adjusted according to the specific requirements of the Universities

Background. Metastasis is the primary cause of death from cancer. An early and critical step of the metastatic cascade is the acquisition by tumor cells of the ability to remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) and migrate through the stromal environment and tissue barriers. At the subcellular level, this ability is associated with actin-rich, fingerlike, membrane protrusions termed invadopodia. The primary function of invadopodia is to concentrate and secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade the ECM to facilitate tumor cell dissemination and cancer progression. Besides acquiring invasive properties, metastatic tumor cells escape from the immune surveillance system.

Objectives. Both tumor cell invasion and immune resistance involve cytoskeletal changes which are promoted by genetic and epigenetic alterations, and microenvironmental conditions, such as hypoxia. Our team focuses on actin regulatory proteins and related signaling pathways driving these two key facets of tumor metastasis, with the goal to identify new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Training and research environment. Cytoskeleton and Cancer Progression is a dynamic and multinational team whose current members originate from France, Belgium, China, America (USA), Syria, Germany and Austria. It belongs to the Department of Oncology, whose research activities focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression using a wide range of cutting edge technologies, including genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, as well as in vitro and in vivo imaging modalities using state-of-the art animal models for cancer research. Master students will assist one of our projects that aims to explore actin-based mechanisms regulating invadopodia formation/activity and immune escape, and will be co-supervised by Dr. C Thomas (PI) and another experienced researcher from the team.

Recent related reference (open access): Hoffmann, C., Mao, X., Dieterle, M., Moreau, F., Al Absi, A., Steinmetz, A., Oudin, A., Berchem, G., Janji, B., and Thomas, C. (2016). CRP2, a new invadopodia actin bundling factor critically promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Oncotarget 7, 13688-13705.

What we offer and conditions
- Students will have the opportunity to work in an interactive and international scientific environment, attend conferences by eminent scientists from abroad, and present their own work during lab meetings.
- They will receive training in basic biochemistry, molecular and cell biology techniques, such as subcloning, recombinant protein expression and purification, cell culture, and cell migration/invasion assays, as well as in state-of-the imaging approaches, such as confocal and TIRF microscopy, and imaging flow cytometry, with the objective of exploring actin cytoskeleton organization and dynamics in metastatic and immune-resistant tumor cells.
- Applicants must be affiliated to their own University. English is mandatory.
- Master students will receive 500€/month unless they have their own funding source, e.g. Erasmus grant.

Scientific contact
Dr. Clément THOMAS, PhD (HDR)
Luxembourg Institute of Health, 84 Val Fleuri
Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research
L-1526 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Tel: 00352 26970252
clement.thomas@lih.lu


Methoden:
Located in Luxembourg, LIH offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, international and multilingual environment that values personal respect and professional achievement based on the highest intellectual and ethical standards. The job advertisement is also published on our website www.lih.lu.
The applicants should submit until 31st October, 2017 a letter detailing their motivation and a curriculum
vitae via our website with the ref. : CM/ICRM0517/CT/LECR.

Anfangsdatum: 1. November 2017

geschätzte Dauer: Available for 6 months (2017/2018) but can be adjusted according to the specific requirements of the Universities

Homepage: http://https://www.lih.lu/jobs/detail/2-internship-positions-in-cancer-research-master-students-ct0517-12624