<p style="text-align:justify;">IRB Barcelona is seeking a <strong>Postdoctoral Fellow (wet-lab)</strong> to work on an exciting collaborative study between the labs of Fran Supek (cancer genomics) at IRB and Benedetta Bolognesi (protein biophysics) at the neighboring IBEC institute, aiming to understand the effects of disease-causing mutations on human cells by performing large-scale genetic experiments.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Our study will deal with highly disruptive indel/SV mutations seen in cancer genomes, e.g. those from exposure to tobacco smoke in lung cancer, or due to deficient DNA repair in ovarian cancer; such mutations can generate unusual peptides. We will apply large-scale experimentation (“deep mutational scanning”) on human cancer cell lines to identify mutant peptides, previously observed in lung and ovarian cancer genomes, that might be toxic to cancer cells and so prevent growth of cancer. A statistical analysis of generated data will elucidate general rules of mutation toxicity to human cells. Further, we plan to apply gene editing experiments using the cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas12a methodology to identify biological mechanisms of mutation toxicity and cancer risk.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">This has implications to estimating cancer risk and agressiveness using genomics, as well as providing new avenues for treating cancer and various other genetic diseases resulting from DNA repeat expansion mutations (e.g. neurodegeration, some developmental disorders).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The study will be executed as a part of the upcoming Horizon Europe EU project entitled “<em>LUCIA: Understanding Lung Cancer related risk factors and their Impact</em>” and/or the ongoing Horizon 2020 project “<em>DECIDER: Clinical Decision via Integrating Multiple Data Levels to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer</em>”.</p><figure><img src="https://images.teamtailor-cdn.com/images/s3/teamtailor-production/gallery_picture/image_uploads/a5e5c9a7-de67-4f22-b787-af56c2ee18ae/original.png" alt="Screen Shot 2021-01-11 at 18.25.21.png"></figure><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>We are looking for an experienced experimental biologist, who enjoys working on impactful, cutting-edge science with high potential to improve patients’ lives.</strong> We would like to recruit a postdoctoral fellow who is curiosity-driven and looking to gain knowledge in the interdisciplinary work involving massively parallel genetic assays and cancer genomics andbioinformatics. The PI’s of the Supek and Bolognesi labs highly prioritize mentorship and support to postdocs in their career progression to independent researcher positions.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The work will be performed in collaboration between the Genome Data Science lab ( <a href="https://www.genomedatalab.org/">https://www.genomedatalab.org/</a> ) led by ICREA Professor Fran Supek, and the Protein Phase Transitions in Health and Disease lab ( <a href="https://ibecbarcelona.eu/member/?empID=1563">https://ibecbarcelona.eu/member/?empID=1563</a> ) led by Benedetta Bolognesi, a group leader at the neighboring IBEC bioengineering institute.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Start date is flexible; December 2022 – April 2023 is ideal.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Informal inquiries can be directed to the PIs <a href="mailto:fran.supek@irbbarcelona.org">fran.supek@irbbarcelona.org</a> and <a href="mailto:bbolognesi@ibecbarcelona.eu">bbolognesi@ibecbarcelona.eu</a> </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Early applications are encouraged.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Relevant publications of the groups:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Lindeboom, Vermeulen, Lehner and Supek (2019) <strong>Nature Genetics</strong> “<em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-019-0517-5">The impact of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay on genetic disease, gene editing and cancer immunotherapy</a></em>”</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Seuma, Lehner and Bolognesi (2022) <strong>biorxiv</strong> “<em><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.18.476804v1.abstract">An atlas of amyloid aggregation: the impact of substitutions, insertions, deletions and truncations on amyloid beta fibril nucleation</a></em>”</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Other literature:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Bokhari et al. (2018) <strong>Oncogenesis</strong>. “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41389-018-0079-x">Targeting nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability</a>”</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Kramer et al. (2018) <strong>Nature Genetics</strong> “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5893388/">CRISPR-Cas9 screens in human cells and primary neurons identify modifiers of C9orf72 dipeptide repeat protein toxicity</a>”<strong><br></strong><br><strong><br></strong></p> <p><strong>DUTIES: </strong></p> <ul><li>Perform excellent research according to the high standards of the Supek and the Bolognesi labs</li><li>Publish results in high impact journals. Draft manuscript texts and figures.</li><li>Present at weekly lab meetings and journal clubs, at department seminars, and at conferences</li><li>Engage in teamwork with other members of the host labs to facilitate progress on the project as required, participate in the EU project activities joint with the other partners: meetings, presentations, visits to other labs, collaboration, exchange of data sets, preparing project reports/deliverables</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:</strong></p><p><strong>Must Have – Required:</strong> </p><ul> <li><strong><strong>Experience and skills:</strong></strong> A PhD in the life sciences. Extensive experience with mammalian cell culture, and with genetic engineering/cloning. Good level of spoken english.</li></ul><p><strong>Desirable:</strong></p><p> </p><ul> <li><strong>Experience and skills: </strong>Optionally, some experience with Flow cytometry, with CRISPR editing or with oligonucleotide libraries is a plus. Further, some experience with statistical analysis of large scale data (e.g. either transcriptomic or genomic or image data) will be helpful, although is not necessary.<br></li> <li><strong>Track record: </strong>one or more first-author publications in reputable journals.<br></li> </ul><p> <br></p> <p><strong>WORKING CONDITIONS & ENTITLEMENTS:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Working conditions</strong>: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations under a full-time contract. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leaves and injuries at work. </li><li><strong>Training and Career: </strong>Postdoctoral researchers joining IRB Barcelona gain access to the Institute’s advanced research training and career development opportunities, all within in a competitive international environment. Courses and workshops on themes of particular interest to postdocs are offered regularly by the Institute.</li><li><strong>International environment: </strong>Nearly 100 postdoctoral researchers (almost half non-Spanish nationals) are currently working toward their research at IRB Barcelona.</li></ul><p><br> </p> <p><strong>HOW TO APPLY & SELECTION PROCESS:</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><ul> <li><strong>Deadline for applications</strong>: 20/09/2022 (If no suitable candidate is found, the deadline will be extended) </li> <li><strong>Number of positions available</strong>: 1</li> <li><strong>Selection process:</strong> <ul><li><strong>Pre-selection</strong>: Will be based on CV, motivation letter, experience, management of research and innovation. </li></ul><ul><li><strong>Interviews</strong>: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed. </li></ul><ul><li><strong>Job offer</strong>: Will be sent to the successful candidate after the interview. </li></ul></li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Note: The strengths and weaknesses of the applications will be provided upon request.</em> </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p><strong><em><br></em></strong></p><p> </p> •
Last updated on Sep 7, 2022