The Pediatric Molecular Neuro-oncology Research (PeMNOR) group of Prof. Martin Baumgartner of the University Children’s Hospital Zürich is seeking a candidate for a postdoctoral position in quantitative microscopy for anti-cancer target discovery and compound validation. This position is part of an SNF Sinergia project entitled "Rational Small Molecule Inhibition of Dissemination (RaSMID) for pediatric brain tumors" and envisioned for a duration of at least two years, with the option to be extended up to a total of four years.​​​​​​​

Background of project: Effective therapeutics precisely targeting the biological mechanisms that promote tumor progression are necessary for the development of efficacious anticancer therapies, in particular to restrict the metastatic spread of the tumor. However, insufficient efficaciousness is a common problem, which may be the result of toxicity due to off-target activity or of a lack of drug specificity for the biological mechanism that is pathophysiologically relevant for tumor progression. In the RaSMID project, we will address this problem by combining rational target-based compound design with phenotypic and functional screening to identify highly specific and selective molecular leads with well-defined biophysical and biological activities.

We are a translational research group positioned between molecular cancer cell biology and therapy development, focusing on molecular target discovery and functional validation of anti-cancer targeting strategies. We offer a fully equipped cancer cell biology laboratory that maintains close ties to the pediatric oncology clinic, along with a wide range of methodologies including state-of-the art microscopy, flow cytometry and advanced cell and tissue culture systems.

Job description: The (PeMNOR group is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to develop biovision analysis tools and apply bioimage informatics protocols to explore cellular states and organism (D. rerio) integrity. With these tools, the candidate will measure anti-cancer compound effects on cellular states and cellular morphodynamics. He/she will furthermore characterize on- and off-target activities of compounds at cell and organism levels. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with an interdisciplinary and international team of medicinal chemists, cell biologists and biovision experts.

Your profile: The successful candidate should have profound experience in bioimage analysis and quantification. Substantial knowledge in quantitative microscopy approaches for cell biology and experience in large image data handling is required. Experience with biochemical assays is an asset. An ideal candidate would be a cell biologist/biochemist with substantial theoretical knowledge and practical experience in quantitative light microscopy. We seek a settled and experienced personality capable of developing novel bioimage analysis protocols to explore cellular states (migratory/invasive versus stationary/proliferative/apoptotic) and to assess compound effects on cell behavior and tissue integrity. The candidate will join a newly formed research team (SNF Sinergia consortium) distributed across three Swiss research groups and affiliated partners in Sweden. The project offers and requires strong interactions with the research of the PeMNOR group and our extramural partners in Switzerland and Sweden, and the willingness to work as a member of a team. Candidates should be highly motivated, self-organized, creative, display initiative, and used to thinking sideways. Excellent command of the English language is expected. The willingness to assist in the supervision of PhD candidates as well as in teaching is expected.

Please send your motivation letter, a CV and two reference letters as one single PDF file to: martin.baumgartner@kispi.uzh.ch

Applications will be collected until position is filled. Preferred start date is October 2021