PhD candidate 'Preparation and imaging of masked antibody-drug conjugates'

4 years We are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate to investigate the safety and efficacy of newly developed masked antibody-drug conjugates (mADCs). Will you join our team?

As a PhD candidate you will develop the mADCs at Wageningen University and test them on in vitro and in vivo models at Radboudumc Nijmegen. Studies will include, among others, masking of ADCs, radiolabeling of the mADCs, in vitro cell binding studies, and animal studies to investigate the tumor and normal tissue targeting properties of the mADCs by means of radionuclide imaging. Finally, the anti-tumor efficacy will be tested in cell culture and animal studies.

The project is funded by the NWO Open Technology Programme. You will work in a multidisciplinary consortium, including Wageningen University, Synaffix, Genmab, and EnzyTag.

The PhD candidate will:

• Design and perform scientific research, including chemical modification of antibodies (such as radiolabeling), in vitro cell binding experiments, therapeutic efficacy assays, immunohistochemistry, and animal experiments (radionuclide imaging, therapy experiments).
• Analyze scientific data.
• Write scientific publications and present findings at (inter)national scientific meetings.
• Work in a consortium in close collaboration with Wageningen University and the biotech companies Synaffix, Genmab, and EnzyTag.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.108 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.939 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

The Department of Medical Imaging provides academic patient care, research, and education. Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis of many diseases and conditions. To this end, the department uses CT, ultrasound, MRI, PET, and SPECT. In addition to diagnostic procedures, the department also performs treatments, such as angiographic interventions or therapies using radiopharmaceuticals—for example, for thyroid, prostate, or liver tumors.

The department includes five research groups, one of which is the Nuclear Medicine group. Our group has a long-standing research line focused on the development and application of radiolabeled tracers for nuclear imaging and therapy. Within the department, there is a strong focus on translational research through collaborations between basic scientists and clinical researchers. Research includes molecular studies on the mechanisms of nuclear therapies, preclinical development of new imaging and therapeutic agents for cancer patients, and clinical trials.

The department has excellent research facilities, including level B radionuclide laboratories, GMP radiolabeling facilities, and a preclinical imaging center (PRIME) with state-of-the-art imaging facilities, including microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT, IVIS fluorescence/bioluminescence, and small-bore high-field MRI.

The research group consists of approximately 30 researchers, including senior scientists, PhD students, medical doctors, and research technicians.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center. You are enthusiastic and have a strong motivation to successfully complete a PhD. Moreover you have:

• A masters degree in (Medical) Biology, Biomedical sciences, Molecular life sciences, or equivalent.
• A permit to work with laboratory animals (or willing to obtain this permit).
• A Permit to work with radioactivity (or willing to obtain this permit).
• Sufficient knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry to perform bioconjugations on antibodies.
• Well-developed communicational and social skills directed towards working in a team.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then call, send a message or email to Prof.dr. Sandra Heskamp, Research group leader via +31 24 361 45 11 or with Dr. Bauke Albada, Wageningen University via +31 6 14 32 77 45. Use the Apply button to submit your application.