Experimental Postdoc – Gene Regulation during Lymphoma Formation

The Institute

The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) is an international biomedical research institute of excellence, based in Barcelona, Spain, with more than 400 scientists from 44 countries. The CRG is composed by an interdisciplinary, motivated and creative scientific team which is supported both by a flexible and efficient administration and by high-end and innovative technologies. 

In April 2021, the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) received the renewal of the ‘HR Excellence in Research ‘ Award from the European Commission. This is a recognition of the Institute’s commitment to developing an HR Strategy for Researchers, designed to bring the practices and procedures in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and theCode of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code). 

Please, check out our Recruitment Policy

The role  

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated postdoc to join the Single Cell Epigenomics and Cancer Development lab to create a better understanding of early tumor formation. The candidate will work on understanding how the 3D genome organisation is altered in pre-malignant lymphoma cells, specifically focussing on the role of strong enhancer displacement in gene regulation. The techniques to be used in this context CRISPR/Cas9 based approaches (genomic editing and dCas9-based techniques), molecular biology techniques (cell culture, RNA/DNA purification, cloning) and epigenetic analyses in cell pools and/or at single-cell level (chIP-seq, ATAC-seq, chromatin conformation capture).  

About the team/ lab/ department 

Tumors originate from normal cells that acquire tumor-initiating genetic events, such as translocations and somatic mutations. These genetic hits turn normal cells into pre-malignant cells, but do not lead to immediate tumor formation. For that, secondary genetic events as well as epigenetic hits are required.  

We aim to create a better understanding of how epigenetic tumor-associated changes arise in the context of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. To that end, we aim to study the occurrence of these changes in healthy individuals as well as in pre-malignant cells in vitro (to be created by CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing) and in vivo using single-cell technologies. Moreover, we aim to define cell intrinsic mechanisms, such as enhancer activation and 3D chromatin interactions that influence the occurrence of the observed changes.  

Further information can be found at: https://www.crg.eu/en/programmes-groups/beekman-lab .

Whom would we like to hire?  

Professional experience  

Must Have

• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in biomedical/biology related experimental work, including expertise in the following: 

• Genome-editing strategies in mammalian cells/cell lines (preferably in hematopoietic cells) 

• Complex cell transfection protocols and cloning 

• Epigenetic analyses (e.g. ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, chromatin conformation capture) 

Desirable but not required/ Nice to have 

Hands-on expertise in: 

• Single-cell screenings 

• Optimisation of single-cell protocols to combine multiple read outs  

• Generation of next-generation sequencing libraries in different experimental contexts

• Microscopy, preferable live-cell imaging, both at the level of the wetlab and analysis 

Education and training

• You hold a PhD in life sciences (biology, biotechnology, biomedicine, biophysics or a related field)  

Languages

Technical skills

   Hands-on experience in the following areas: 

• CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies 

• Library preparation 

• Mammalian cell culture, including transfection methods for cell line based and/or primary samples and cloning 

• Epigenetic analyses 

• Optimisation of complex protocols 

• NGS methods 

Competences  

• Highly developed organization skills

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

• Creativity allowing to design experiments and explore data from unexplored angles 

• Enthusiasm, motivation and dedication to explore new scientific avenues 

• Capability to work on different projects simultaneously as part of a team and/or independently 

The Offer – Working Conditions 

• Contract duration:3 years 

• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales 

• Target start date: Spring – Autumn 2024 

We provide a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures, and unique professional career development opportunities. To check out our training and development portfolio, please visit our website in the training section .

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion,sexual orientation or gender identity.

The CRG is committed to reconcile a work and family life of its employees and are offering extended vacation period and the possibility to benefit from flexible working hours.

Application Procedure

All applications must include:

All applications must be addressed to Dr. R. Beekman and be submitted online through the “Apply” button below.

Selection Process

• Pre-selection: The pre-selection process will be based on qualifications and expertise reflected on the candidates CVS. It will be merit-based. 

• Interview: Preselected candidates will be interviewed by the Hiring Manager of the position and a selection panel if required. 

• Offer Letter: Once the successful candidate is identified the People department will send a Job Offer, specifying the start day, salary, working conditions, among other important details.  

Deadline: Please submit your application by 25/02/2024.  

Suggestions: The CRG believes in ongoing improvement and promotes a culture of feedback. This is one of the reasons we have in place, at your disposal as a candidate, a mechanism to gather your suggestions/complaints concerning your candidate experience in our recruitment processes. Your feedback really matters to us in our aim at creating a positive candidate journey. You can make a difference and help us improve by letting us know your suggestions through the following form. https://recruitment.crg.eu/webforms/recruitment-contact-form-suggestionscomplaints

“This project has received funding from the ERCEA program ERC-2021-STG under grant agreement No 101039265”