Doctoral position in tumor biology/neurooncology in Germany

1. The Institute of Neuropathology at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, Director Prof. Till Acker, is inviting applications for a
2. Requirements: We are looking for enthusiastic and highly motivated biology, biochemistry or pharmacy students holding, or about to obtain, an MSc degree, diploma or equivalent, with a strong interest in tumor biology and a background in molecular or cell biology.
3. Project description: Our group has a long-standing interest in the role of microenvironmental factors, particularly hypoxia, in the regulation of tumor progression. We have dissected the differential functions of the key transcriptional regulators hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and HIF-2alpha in tumor growth and we are actively investigating the involvement of HIF regulators and downstream targets in tumorigenesis.
4. At the same time, a growing body of evidence indicates that tumor development is critically dependent on the function of a small subset of cells which possess stem cell properties and are termed tumor stem cells (TSCs). Our own recent work has identified a detailed transcriptional signature of TSCs, helping to delineate specific TSC markers that are functionally involved in TSC maintenance and have prognostic value for glioblastomas.
5. 
   Furthermore, we have also been able to uncover discrete niches in which the TSCs reside within glioblastomas. The proposed project will focus on the characterization of key factors and epigenetic modifications that regulate the stem cell properties of TSCs and the interplay between TSCs and the niche.
6. We offer an open, supportive, internationally competitive academic environment with excellent training opportunities within the PhD graduate program of the International Giessen Graduate school for Life Sciences (GGL: http://www.uni-giessen.de/cms/fbz/zentren/ggl). We have won a number of external research grants and are involved in several national and international collaborative projects.
7. We use a wide spectrum of methods: cloning, cell culture, biochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, FACS, ELISA, luciferase reporter assays, cell-based assays (proliferation, apoptosis, migration, 3D invasion etc.), virally-based gene delivery and silencing, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, light, epifluorescence and confocal microscopy, image analysis, animal models and in vivo transplantation.
8. Selected publications:
   Nature 2010, in press
   Brain 2010;133(4):983-95
   Cancer Research 2010;70(1):357-66
   Recent Results Cancer Research 2009; 171:241-59
   Cardiovascular Research 2006; 71(2):195-207
   Cancer Cell 2005; 8(2):131-41
   Nature Medicine 2002; 8(7):702-10
9. Website:
   http://www.ukgm.de/ugm_2/deu/5424.html
10. How to apply: Please send your application, including a CV, certificates and references by email Contact details for applications:

Dr. Boyan Garvalov: Boyan.Garvalov@patho.med.uni-giessen.de Institut für Neuropathologie, 3. OG Aulweg 123, 35392 Giessen