Postdoc Bioinformatics

The Kemmeren group is looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated postdoc who excels in a stimulating, multi-disciplinary research environment and can push forward the Máxima pediatric cancer genome project.

About the Kemmeren group

The Kemmeren group exploits cancer genomics data through a combination of bioinformatics and systems biology approaches with the goal to improve our understanding of childhood cancer initiation and progress as well as improve patient care for children with cancer. Examples include driving bioinformatics research for precision oncology and diagnostics, improving structural variation detection and investigating biological mechanisms of genetic interactions in childhood cancer. We have developed a unique combination of expertise in bioinformatics, functional genomics and molecular-genetic interactions. While our focus is on computational aspects, we collaborate intensively with (pediatric) tumor biology groups, thus enabling a truly multidisciplinary approach. Within the group, we currently have an opening for a bioinformatics postdoc to drive forward the Máxima pediatric cancer genome project.

Research Project

Despite advances in cure rates, childhood cancer is still the leading cause of disease related death among children in high income countries. Understanding the genetic alterations underlying pediatric cancer is crucial for improving treatment outcome and quality of life. Compared to adult cancers, childhood cancers are rare, thereby making it difficult to collect large cohorts for research purposes. In the Netherlands, almost all childhood cancer care and research is concentrated in a single institute, the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology. With approximately 600 children per year being affected by cancer in the Netherlands and 150 children suffering from relapse tumors each year, our institute comprises the largest pediatric oncology institute in Europe. This provides a unique opportunity for the Netherlands to contribute to the world-wide effort in understanding and resolving childhood cancer. For this purpose, we have already initiated the Máxima pediatric cancer genome project where we intend to generate a large and uniform collection of pediatric cancer genomes. Started in 2016, we have already collected data for more than 1,500 patients and are aiming for a collection of 3,000 pediatric cancer genomes within the next two to three years. Using standardized computational analysis pipelines for whole-exome, whole-genome and RNA-seq data, the data collection is crucial for obtaining insights into cancer biology, identifying therapeutic targets as well as identifying clinically distinct tumor subtypes. Taken together, this project will greatly facilitate international pediatric cancer research and be beneficial for precision oncology programs. This will ultimately lead to improvements in cure rates and quality of life for children with cancer.

Tasks and responsibilities

The candidate will take the lead on the bioinformatics aspects within this project, coordinate efforts with other bioinformaticians, postdocs and technicians within the Kemmeren group, diagnostic lab and other involved research groups and bring this project to a successful end. Specific asks include:

• Coordinate, design and perform explorative and integrative data analyses
• Coordinate quality control of the dataset to create a uniform and consistent set for data analysis, interpretation and publication
• Coordinate the FAIRification of the data, ensuing that the appropriate metadata tags are in place and correct (clinical) annotations are present
• Develop new and implement published computational methods

Education and skills

We expect a highly motivated candidate with a PhD or similar experience in bioinformatics or computational biology. Excellent technical and programming skills are required, preferably in Linux, Bash, R, Python and Java. Knowledge about next-generation sequencing, genetics, statistics and large-scale computational infrastructures (HPC) are also highly recommended. The candidate will work in close collaboration with bioinformaticians and laboratory specialists in the Kemmeren group and other research groups already involved in this research project. The candidate should also have good communication skills, be flexible, versatile and a good team player.

We offer

A full-time position (36 hours a week) initially for one year, with the intention to extend for a minimum period of two years as a postdoc/bioinformatician. You will be working in a very stimulating and cross-disciplinary research environment, combining cutting-edge research with state-of-the-art bioinformatics. Your gross monthly salary will depend on experience and background with a maximum of €5.978,- (scale 60), supplemented with 8.33% gross monthly salary holiday allowance and 8.33% end-of-year bonus. The Princess Máxima Center operates according to the collective labour agreement ‘cao algemene ziekenhuizen’.

Contact and application

You can apply by pressing the ‘Apply’ button on the right of this screen. Application deadline: August 31st. For more information contact Dr. Patrick Kemmeren.

Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze vacature wordt niet op prijs gesteld.