Our lab for Cellular Oncology is a basic research lab and part of the Goettingen University Medical Center and the newly founded Center for Cancer Genome Dynamics. We are interested in investigating how cancer cells acquire genome instability that drives tumor evolution and tumor progression towards aggressive tumor phenotypes, metastasis and therapy resistance.

A hallmark of human cancer is the presence of chromosomal instability (CIN), which reflects the ongoing generation of structural and numerical chromosome changes. This enables cancer cells to evolve and to acquire new cancer-relevant phenotypes. Although of key importance, the knowledge about the molecular mechanisms leading to CIN are still very limited.

We are interested in two key cellular processes involved in triggering cancer chromosomal instability:
1. DNA replication stress, which is defined as abnormal DNA replication during S phase of the cell cycle and causing structural chromosome aberrations and
2. Mitotic dysfunction, which leads to chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy in cancer cells.

Most significantly, we recently discovered that these two processes are functionally linked and replication stress can cause mitotic defects, thereby explaining why structural and numerical CIN are typically occurring in cancer cells concomitantly.

We are now very interested in investigating the relationship between DNA replication stress and the generation of mitotic defects in detail. The planned Ph.D. thesis project is based on most recent research data from our lab and will address the role of microtubule dynamic changes as a fundamental cause for mitotic errors that are triggered by replication stress.

The project will also be embedded in our inter-disciplinary cancer-directed research consortia (KFO5002 and CRC1324, see: https://gccc.umg.eu/en/cru-5002/; www.sfb1324.de)

For more information on the mechanisms of chromosomal instability please also refer to our research consortium FOR2800: www.for2800.de We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate (m/f) with particular interest in cancer research and cell biology. The candidate will focus on an own research project directed to the molecular analyses of mechanisms linking replication stress and DNA repair mechanisms to microtubule dynamic changes and chromosome missegregation in human cancer cells. The candidate should hold a very good Master degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine, Human Biology, Biochemistry or similar. Experience in basic cell biology techniques, in handling human tissue culture cells and in microscopy would be a plus.

Candidates who are not yet finished with their Master degree are also welcome to apply since the start of the project can take up to three months due to the HR-related procedures. The planed investigations will involve the use of various human cell systems, state-of-the-art cell biological and molecular biology methods including single cell live cell microscopy, DNA combing to analyze individual replication forks, cell cycle analyses, cell manipulations using siRNA and CRISPR/Cas etc.
The PhD candidate will participate in a structured graduate program for Molecular Medicine, which will provide method and soft skill courses, regular thesis advisory committee meetings and additional benefits for a successful PhD thesis work.

We offer a highly motivated and stimulating scientific environment, lab space with state-of-the-art equipment (e.g. including two live cell microscopes), a dedicated and caring supervision and support as well as opportunities for inter-disciplinary collaborations, in particular for the use of various microscopy techniques.

The salary is paid according to the german TV-L scale.