Position for graduate student

Project title: Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAF) Function in Tumor Expansion and Invasion (CAFFEIN)

Job: Position for graduate student (early-stage researcher) for 3 years. 
Applicants should have a Master degree. A background in cell culture, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology and in murine tumor models (genetically engineered mouse models, subcutaneous, orthotopic) will be of great advantage. Demonstrated proficiency in written/spoken English is mandatory.

Place of employment: The position will be at the University of Liège, GIGA-Cancer, Liège, Sart Tilman (http://www. giga.ulg.ac.be/jcms/c_5015/accueil).

Job description is available for download here.

Description

Scope of the project: CAFFEIN is an EC funded Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) with the objective to train young scientists in the important role of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) for tumor cell expansion and invasion. In a trans-European network one biotech company and ten academic partners aim to identify functional CAF subpopulations and CAF effector mechanisms, and to develop therapeutic antibodies targeting CAFs as a novel approach in cancer therapy.
CAFFEIN consists of leading European research groups and companies with complementary knowledge in this area and a critical mass of expertise for providing an excellent training in CAF function and translational cancer research. This network seeks 10 PhD students and two postdocs with a high motivation, high interest in cancer research and the willingness to work in a team of academic and industrial partners in different European countries.
Fellowship description: The selected candidate (PhD student) is expected to study the functional contribution of tumor microenvironment, and particularly fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and/or bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells on cancer progression and metastasis, aiming at identifying novel therapeutic targets
Eligibility: It is a goal of Marie Curie to promote the mobility of Scientific Knowledge across national boundaries. Therefore candidates should NOT have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the time of recruitment and has ≤ 4 years postgraduate working experience (counted from the diploma that gives the rights to embark in a doctoral degree).

To apply: Please send application (a letter of interest describing briefly your career, CV, list of publications, and two letters of reference) via e-mail to Prof. Agnes Noel (agnes.noel@ulg.ac.be) and Julie Lecomte PhD (jlecomte@ulg.ac.be) until December 28th 2012.
 The recruited researcher should start in April 2013.