job description
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Join our Cat4Cancer program! The Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Science (HIMS) is one of the eight institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Science (HIMS) engages in internationally recognized molecular science research, including curiosity and application-driven research. Part of the research is carried out in collaboration with the chemical, energy, spice and food, medical and high-tech industries. Within the Synthesis and Catalysis group, the Homogeneous, Supramolecular and Bioinspired Catalysis (HomKat) group is looking for an outstanding PhD student. Together with 4 other PhD students and 2 postdocs, this PhD student will carry out research in the laboratories of the HomKat group and collaborate with Leiden University (Prof. Kros) and NKI (Cancer Research Institute, Dr. Akkari) in a project on cancer catalysis. In the Netherlands, about 500 to 700 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are no cure for this brain cancer. The challenge for the surgery and radiotherapy teams is that the tumors are poorly defined and invade deep into the surrounding brain tissue. The challenge with drug-based therapies is that glioblastoma cells are very effective at generating drug resistance. Even novel immunotherapies that have had great success in other solid tumors have ended in failure in glioblastoma. This is mainly due to the highly inhibitory tumor microenvironment, where so-called tumor-associated macrophages effectively “hijack” the local immune response. In search of a solution, the Cat4CanCenter project has adopted a completely new approach. The project brings together Prof. Joost Reek, an expert in catalysis at the University of the Netherlands, Prof. Alexander Kros, an expert in drug delivery at the University of Leiden, and Dr. Leila Akkari, a cancer immunologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and the Oncode Institute. Together, they have come up with a groundbreaking approach to chemotherapy that involves synthesizing active drugs with toxicity in the tumor environment. For this purpose, a molecular catalyst is first delivered into the tumor tissue using lipid nanoparticles. Next, so-called prodrug molecules are administered. Finally, the catalyst converts these non-toxic precursors into active drugs that fight glioblastoma “from the inside”. In this large-scale project, the Homkat research group holds the last of five doctoral positions responsible for designing caged catalysts capable of synthesizing the desired drug molecules. In recent years, the Homkat group has developed caged catalysts that allow metal-catalyzed synthesis in biological environments. They can now function in aqueous environments, biomolecules and even living cells. By designing caged catalysts with an affinity for the prodrug, we can make the catalysts operate in an enzyme-like manner, thereby increasing the efficiency of conversion at low concentrations. In this program, we need to ensure that we are able to synthesize a range of drug molecules to counteract aspects of the rapid growth of glioblastoma, which requires the development of a large toolbox of caged catalysts for various transformations. This research will be carried out in close collaboration with projects developed by Leiden and NKI in the context of the ERC synergy program cat4cancer.
offer requirements
You should be a creative thinker who enjoys challenging projects. You should ideally have a background in synthesis and catalysis and an interest in supramolecular chemistry, biochemistry/biology. You should be a team player as projects will be carried out in the context of a larger collaborative program. You will have a Masters degree in Chemistry and significant laboratory experience in synthetic chemistry. Candidates must have good oral and written communication skills in English. Due to a limited recruitment budget, we will prioritize candidates who are currently based in Europe. The position is vacant until we find a suitable candidate.
offer benefits/salary
A temporary contract of 38 hours per week, preferably starting as soon as possible, for a period of four years (with an initial contract period of 18 months, which will be extended to a total of four years upon satisfactory assessment). This will lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draw up an educational program that will include participation in courses and (international) conferences. We would also like you to assist in the teaching of undergraduate and master’s students. The total monthly salary under a full-time contract (38 hours per week) is €2,901 in the first year and €3,707 in the final year (P grade). This does not include a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. A favorable tax agreement, the “30% award”, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. In addition to the salary and the dynamic and challenging environment of the Science Park, we offer you a wide range of fringe benefits: 232 hours of vacation per year (on a full-time basis) as well as additional vacation between Christmas and January 1; a wide range of courses offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning; a wide range of courses on topics such as leadership, etc., for academic staff; a wide range of courses on topics such as time management, dealing with stress, etc., and an online learning platform containing more than 100 different courses; 7 weeks paid maternity leave (partner leave); partially paid parental leave; possibility of setting up a workplace at home; ABP pension, for which the UvA pays two-thirds of the premiums; possibility of taking a Dutch language learning course.