PhD Student in Mutational Processes Driving Somatic Evolution

From cigarette smoke and UV radiation to chemotherapeutic cancer treatments, the cells in our bodies are constantly struck by exogenous agents that damage our DNA. The processes that evolved to repair and tolerate damage are responsible for many of the mutations that cause cancer and treatment resistance. But their dynamics, the molecular machinery involved, and their role in disease are still poorly understood. This is where you come in.

The newly established Cancer Systems Biology lab of Dr. Craig Anderson is searching for an enthusiastic PhD student to play a principal role in understanding how DNA damage leads to mutational heterogeneity across our bodies and over the course of our lives.
The lab is situated in the Department of Translational Oncology at the DKTK partner site at the LMU Klinikum, Munich. DKTK is a multi-location collaboration between DKFZ and leading university medical centres, so you stand to benefit from the combined opportunities that come from being part of some of Germany’s finest research institutes.

Munich itself is a beautiful and centrally located city, offering all the trappings of a modern lifestyle. It provides easy access to other cities and green spaces across the region, regularly scoring highly across indices for happiness and quality of life.

Relevant work:
Anderson CJ et al. Strand-resolved mutagenicity of DNA damage and repair. 2024. Nature 630: 744.

Nicholson MD, Anderson CJ, et al. DNA lesion bypass and the stochastic dynamics of transcription coupled repair. 2024. PNAS 121: 20.

Aitken SJ, Anderson CJ, et al. Pervasive lesion segregation shapes cancer genome evolution. 2020. Nature, 582: 7815.

Get in touch to find out more, or apply today!

You will benefit from:

• Access to world class training and mentorship
• Involvement in cutting-edge research
• Opportunities to contribute towards publication and peer review
• Dedicated funding for international conference attendance
• A supportive, flexible and collaborative working environment
  

Your tasks:

Dr. Anderson has been a central figure in the discovery that DNA damage is heritable, and you’ll build on this work by using molecular methods to unravel the forces that modulate mutagenesis across the genome of mutagen-exposed cancer cells. You’ll be introduced to advanced statistical and computational methods for analysis of the data you create. Your findings will be a vital part of understanding the evolution of cancer drug resistance in cell models and in patients.

About you:

• You’re excited about our research-driven to take a deep dive into the unknown.
• You’re extremely capable, using creativity and ingenuity to rise to new challenges.
• You’ve got an excellent MSc degree in cancer genetics, molecular biology, or similar.
• You have laboratory experience and an interest in developing your bioinformatic skills.
• You have very good written and oral communication skills in English.

Requirements:

The position requires an excellent understanding of molecular biology, with demonstrable experience in the use of CRISPR in mouse or human cells. You must be capable of working independently to confidently manage your own day-to-day research across laboratory experiments and bioinformatic analyses concurrently. You should be able to show evidence of working collaboratively, with respect for diversity among your colleagues and the institutional positions held. The working language in the lab is English, and you must have an outstanding ability to communicate with your colleagues in the department. You also need to communicate your research clearly through publication, in meetings, with collaborators, and in presentations at national and international conferences. You should see the value in working safely and in maintaining accurate records. Above all, you need to have a can-do attitude driving you to learn, adapt and succeed.

Desirable skills or willingness to learn include:
Toxicant exposure; experience in short- and long-read sequencing; computational and statistical analyses; a good mechanistic understanding of how cells replicate their DNA and respond to DNA damage.

We Offer

Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level

Access to international research networks

Doctoral salary with the usual social benefits

30 days of vacation per year

Flexible working hours

Possibility of part-time work

Family-friendly working environment

Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket

Unleash your full potential: targeted training and mentoring through the DKFZ International PhD Program and DKFZ Career Service

Our Corporate Health Management Program offers a holistic approach to your well-being