Results of the competition:
As part of the conducted procedure, the Competition Committee recommended the candidacy of mgr Kamila Karpińska for the post of PhD student.
Description:
Title of the position: PhD student in Laboratory of the Molecular Biology of Cancer
Scientific discipline: biology and cancer
Job type: Scholarship
Number of job offers: 1
Remuneration/Stipend amount/month: 4000 PLN gross/month
Position starts on: 01.05.2019
Maximum period of contract/stipend agreement: 36 months
Institution: Laboratory of the Molecular Biology of Cancer
Project leader: Agnieszka Kobielak
Project title: Role of catulin in the regulation of cell-extracellular matrix interactions in tumor invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Project Description: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is highly aggressive tumor and despite various treatment options available, HNSCC patients are still faced with a high chance of recurrence and/or metastasis, with a 5-year survival rate of only about 50 percent. Thus understanding the metastatic process is of high importance and is highly significant for the development of novel treatments. Abnormal cell migration and invasion modulated by integrin-mediated interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the actin cytoskeleton are key components of metastasis. We recently identified that high expression of Rho-GEF binding protein α-catulin correlates with the ability of human squamous cell carcinoma cells to invade and metastasize. We showed that α-Catulin is preferentially expressed at the tumor invasion front and in the invasive streams of cells with minimal expression in the normal oral epithelia. Our in vitro data show that an upregulation of α-catulin expression correlates with the transition of tumor cells from an epithelial to mesenchymal morphology and knockdown of α-catulin in hHNSCC cell lines dramatically decreases the migratory and invasive potential of those cells in vitro and metastatic potential in xenotransplants in vivo. α-catulin deficient cells exhibit defects in actin dynamics, Rho signaling and directional migration. Performed by us transcriptional and biochemical analyses of tumors deficient in α-catulin demonstrate that its ablation prevent tumor cells from invading the surrounding stroma which is accompanied by changes in expression of genes involved in cell migration and invasion. The main goal of the project is to understand molecular mechanism of signal transduction by the catulin-Rho/ROCK downstream from integrins in metastasizing squamous cell carcinoma cells in order to identify novel strategies for HNSCC treatments and prevent cancer cell metastasis.
Key responsibilities include:
Participation in all research planned in the project
Profile of candidates/requirements:
• MSc in biology or related fields or MD,
• Good knowledge of English,
• Experience or knowledge in laboratory work: gel electrophoresis, PCR, RT-PCR, q-PCR, DNA/RNA/Protein extraction and purification, DNA cloning, lentiviruses, western blot, cryo- and paraffin- sectioning, immunofluorescent and immunohistochemistry staining, microscopy: fluorescent and confocal laser scanning microscopy, mammalian cell culture, FACS sorting, laboratory animals
– mice handling, xenograft model, valid mouse handling certificate
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint,
• Team work skills.
Required documents:
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter, describing Candidate motivation
• MSc certificate
• One or more letters of recommendation from a scientist who is familiar with the Candidate (submitted directly to email address below)
• Information on scientific publications, scholarships, prizes and awards or other relevant documents demonstrating the excellence of Candidate
• A list of attended conferences with titles and authors of presentations
• A personal data processing agreement
We offer:
Stimulating work environment in friendly group of researcher
Please submit the following documents to: a.kobielak@cent.uw.edu.pl (entitle your email “PhD POSITION”).
Deadline: 31/03/2019
Attachment: download
Tags: cancer metastasis, cancer stem cells
