About the Job
The University of Luxembourg is a research-driven institution with a distinct multilingual and interdisciplinary character.
We are contributing multidisciplinary expertise in various fields including Life Sciences, Medicine, and Data Science.
Our dual mission of teaching and research aims to generate and disseminate knowledge, and train new generations of responsible citizens to better understand society and environment we live in.
Your role
In our collaborative group, we investigate stromal-epithelial crosstalk in colorectal cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance.
We use state-of-the-art single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and spatial transcriptomics on CRC patient samples, and have identified novel epithelial cell states and distinct cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations.
The primary focus will be to define how fibroblasts from healthy colon tissue transition into distinct CAF subtypes and how these subtypes regulate epithelial plasticity and immune responses, promoting tumor progression and therapy resistance.
This work integrates spatial transcriptomics, advanced co-culture organoid assays, and in vivo models to decode mechanisms underlying CAF-driven CRC evolution.
We have access to single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics data from active clinical trials through our collaborations, putting us in an ideal position to understand how stromal interactions change under current novel treatments and could be harnessed as future therapies.
The postdoctoral fellow will work jointly between our institution and the KU Leuven, benefiting from a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, and contributing to the TARGET-SEC project's goal of identifying therapeutic strategies targeting pro-tumorigenic stroma-epithelial interactions in CRC.
The person will apply innovative bioinformatics approaches to human-relevant models and unique patient-derived tissue cohorts from colorectal cancer.
The aim is to dissect the tumor "ecosystem" with a particular emphasis on epithelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells, and comprehensively profile their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, lineage plasticity, and evolutionary dynamics.
Responsibilities:
* Coordinate experiments for the TARGET-SEQ project
* Conduct bioinformatics analysis and implement new tools
* Collect, interpret, and analyze research related data and results
* Ensure proper scientific documentation
* Document performed experiments and analyses in a lab book
* Participate and present obtained data in bi-monthly consortium meetings
* Present the data in scientific publications
* Contribute to general tasks in the laboratory
Requirements:
* PhD in Biological Sciences, Data Science, Computational Biology, or a related field
* Preferably with prior professional experience as a Postdoctoral Researcher
* Strong computational background with proficiency in R and at least one additional scripting language
* Solid knowledge of biostatistics
* Experience with single-cell sequencing data and preferably with spatial omics
* Working in high-performance computing environments is highly preferred
* Good understanding of cancer biology, immunology, cell biology, and molecular biology required
* Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications
* Excellent spoken and written communication skills
* Strong organizational skills
* Proficiency in English required