A PhD student position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Bernd Groner under the guidance of Dr. Vida Vafaizadeh in the Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Biomedical Research in Frankfurt am Main / Germany. The project is concerned with the role of stem cells in normal mammary gland development and breast cancer. Multipotent mammary stem cells give rise to specific progenitor cells and maintain the balance of differentiated epithelial cells. This occurs through the activation of gene regulatory networks and hierarchical sets of transcriptional activators and repressors. Genetic and epigenetic changes in mammary stem cells or in descendant luminal and basal progenitor cells may account for the origins of different subtypes of breast cancer. We have established an innovative in vivo model system to study these processes (see: Vafaizadeh et al., Stem Cells, 2010; 28: 928-938). It is based on the orthotopic transplantation of gene-modified mammary stem cells into recipien!
t mice and allows the study of genetic and epigenetic changes with respect the normal and tumorigenic development of the mammary glands. New mouse tumor models, expressing a constitutively activated variant of the transcription factor Stat5 in mammary stem cells and progenitors and resembling the ER+PR+ luminal subtype of human breast cancer have already been derived.
Highly motivated candidates holding a Master degree (or equivalent) in biology or biochemistry and a strong background in cellular and molecular biology are welcome to apply. Expertise in transcriptional regulation studies and FACS analysis would be advantageous. Please send your application (including CV, letter of motivation and the names and addresses of two referees) by e-mail to:
Dr. Vida Vafaizadeh
AG Prof. Dr. Bernd Groner
Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Biomedical Research
Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 42-44
D-60596 Frankfurt / Main
Germany
Email: V.Vafaizadeh@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Telephone: +49 69 63395254