The translational breast cancer research team led by Prof. Juha Klefström at the University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine*, is looking to hire an ambitious

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY.

The candidate will join a collaborative, multi-disciplinary immuno-oncology project that seeks new ways to sensitize breast cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors via synthetic lethal and immunogenic cell death concepts, which are integrated with computational predictions. One key element in this approach is a novel method, developed in the Klefström lab, to grow 3D cultures of intact fragments of patient-derived tissue (Patient-Derived Explant Cultures; PDECs). PDECs offer distinct advantages over other model systems as they preserve the human tumor microenvironment including the immune-contexture, reflect inter- and intra-patient tumor heterogeneity and, importantly, can assess the efficacy of novel treatment regimens on real human tumors (Haikala et al., Nature Comm. 2019; PMID: 30728358).

The candidate will join a translational research group (https://klefstromlab.com) that is part of the Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program of the Medical Faculty’s Research Programs Unit (RPU; link). The project is funded by the large public-private partnership Cancer IO (cancerio.org), which was founded and is led by the Klefström group. A list of publications from the host laboratory can be found at https://klefstromlab.com/home/publications/. Highlights include publications in Nat. Comms (2019), Cancer Research (2021), J. Med. Chem (2018 and 2019), Cancer Discovery (2015), PNAS (2007, 2013), Oncogene (2016) and EMBO J (2015).

Candidate requirements:
• PhD degree in a relevant field
• Highly motivated with strong interest in translational cancer research
• Documented experience in experimental research; experience in immuno-oncology or immunology is not necessary but highly valued
• Good team player
• As the working language of the research group is English, the chosen candidate must be able to communicate fluently in English

The initial contract will be for two years, starting at your earliest convenience (with a 6 months trial period). Contract extension is possible. The salary is in accordance with the University salary system (for teaching and research personnel).

Applications must include a CV and an application letter clearly describing how your profile matches the candidate requirements and other previous achievements in the field. Also include names and contact information of two or three references. The application, together with the required attachments, must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on Apply for job link. Deadline for applications is March 17th 2021, but the position will be closed once a suitable candidate has been identified. For further inquiries, please contact cancerio-office (at) helsinki.fi.

*The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki promotes scientific research of a high standard and is responsible for providing research-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, psychology and logopedics, as well as for the English-language Master’s Programme in Translational Medicine. In addition to its teaching and research activities, the Faculty serves as a significant expert organisation in the healthcare sector and contributes to the discourse on ethics in the field. In terms of research, the Faculty aims for a place among the best medical faculties in the world, while consolidating and strengthening its status as a top-level institution of medical education.

Together with the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) and the Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), the Faculty of Medicine constitutes the Academic Medical Center Helsinki (AMCH). This medical center has been very successful in international comparisons, ranking among the top 10 medical campuses in Europe and among the top 50 globally.