Do you want to contribute to outstanding research with the aim of clinical application to improve treatment outcomes for children with cancer? You are an experienced research technician and looking for a new challenge? Then we encourage you to get in contact with us!
We are looking for a lab technician to support our research team at the Prinses Máxima Centrum. The position is embedded in a project that aims to develop a novel cellular immunotherapy with CAR T cells against pediatric solid tumors.
The project
In recent years immunotherapy with CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells has revolutionized the treatment of certain leukemias. T cells are isolated from the blood of the patient and modified in the laboratory to express a receptor, a so-called CAR, that specifically binds to a target on the cell surface. The CAR T cells are infused back into the patient where they attack and eliminate cancer cells. This type of treatment has shown great efficacy and has improved survival rates in adult and pediatric patients with blood cancer.
Treating solid tumors with CAR T cells, however, is not successful yet. The main challenges are the lack of suitable tumor targets and a hostile tumor microenvironment (TME) that impairs the functionality of the CAR T cells.
The job position is embedded in a funded research project that aims to overcome the hostile TME to allow CAR T cells to efficiently kill the tumor cells. The project will develop a novel type of CAR T cells against a target that is broadly expressed in pediatric solid tumors and that release activating cytokines into the TME with the intention to support their functionality. The effects of the CAR T cells and cytokines on tumor cells and non-malignant cells in the TME will be studied and their efficacy tested in tumor models in vitro and in vivo (mouse models). The overall goal of the project is to develop a CAR T cell product that allows effective treatment of solid tumors in children.
Your profile
We are looking for an experienced lab technician, who is eager to join our team, with the following qualifications and skills:
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Biotechnology, Immunology, or a related field.
- Experience of at least 3 years in a laboratory setting, preferably in immunology, cancer research, or a related discipline.
- Expertise in cell culture techniques, including handling of primary immune cells and cancer cell lines.
- Familiarity with flow cytometry, ELISA, western blotting, PCR, and other immunological and molecular techniques.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow complex protocols.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certified laboratory animal course and experience in animal handling or the strong intention to obtain a certificate and conduct animal experiments.
- Experience in tissue processing (e.g., immunohistochemistry), organoid culturing or imaging techniques.
Our job offer
We offer you a stimulating position within a dedicated team and a unique pediatric oncology center in the Netherlands and Europe. You will have the opportunity to contribute to innovative cancer immunotherapy research. You will start on a temporary position for 36 hours per week for the duration of one year, which – upon satisfactory completion of the first year – will be extended by another 1.5 years. Your gross monthly salary will start in FWG 45 with a maximum salary of €4.015,- gross a month for a fulltime working week (36 hours). You also receive 8,33% holiday allowance and 8,33 % end-of-year bonus. The Princess Máxima Center operates according to the collective labor agreement ‘cao ziekenhuizen’.
The Princess Máxima Center
The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology is a research hospital concentrating healthcare, research and education with regard to cancer in children in a single location in Utrecht. The institute aims to provide the highest level of care for all children with cancer and has the ambition to cure all children of cancer and significantly reduce unwanted side effects. The center brings together the best possible care and scientific research, creating a unique interdisciplinary institute for pediatric oncology in Europe.
The Rossig group
The research focus of our group in the Prinses Máxima Centrum is the development of cellular immunotherapies against solid tumors in children. In particular, we generate CAR T cells to target diverse tumor types such as neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. To improve the killing capacity of CAR T cells, we engineer CAR T cells with pro-inflammatory cytokines that are released into the tumor microenvironment and stimulate immune responses against the tumor. To generate and analyze CAR T cells, we perform state-of-the-art techniques, including live-cell imaging (e.g., Incucyte), multicolor flow cytometry and gene-editing (e.g., CRISPR). Our ultimate goal is to develop an optimal CAR T cell candidate for the treatment of children with solid tumors that will enter the manufacturing pipeline of the Prinses Máxima Centrum. To reach this goal we collaborate with several research groups and the Cell and Gene Therapy Facility (CGTF) at the Prinses Máxima Centrum.
Applying for this position?
Are you excited about this position? We are looking forward to meeting you! You can apply directly by clicking on the orange button on this page. We invite you to apply as soon as possible, since we will close the vacancy when we have found a suitable candidate.
Please provide:
- An up-to-date resume/CV
- Cover letter describing your motivation and background
For more information about this position please contact Ramona Meissner.
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