Wet-lab Postdoc

Wet-lab Postdoc in the Jonkers laboratory: The implementation of functional assays to classify somatic variants of unknown significance in routine clinical diagnostics.

We are recruiting a highly motivated wet-lab postdoc with a strong background in molecular oncology and a keen interest in translational research and improving routine clinical cancer care. You will join the research team of Jos Jonkers that is specialized in functional cancer genomics in BRCA-associated hereditary breast cancer and E-cadherin mutated invasive lobular breast cancer models. Furthermore, you will intensively collaborate with the Molecular Diagnostics laboratory within the Department of Pathology to experience working in a clinical-grade laboratory environment.

The postdoc will play a central role in optimizing and exploiting in vitro functional classification assays to test the oncogenicity of somatic variants of unknown significance in actionable targets and determine their sensitivity to clinically relevant targeted therapeutics. The optimized assays will be implemented under strict medical laboratory standards in the pathology department and a logistic workflow needs to be established to use these assays in routine clinical diagnostics.

In this project, you will work within a multidisciplinary team comprising molecular biologists, laboratory technicians, clinicians, pathologists and clinical scientists. The role requires a critical and innovative mind combined with a structured working approach to further improve and ultimately implement clinical grade functional assays in routine diagnostics to have direct clinical impact for patients.

Your role

You will be responsible for:

• Optimization and validation of functional assays for clinical implementation

• Conducting in vitro assays to systemically test large cohorts of somatic gene variants identified in patients

• Coordinate, implement and translate the research findings into routine diagnostics within a multidisciplinary department

Why the Netherlands Cancer Institute?

At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, we have a shared goal: providing the best care for every patient and every type of cancer. Quite a lot, but not impossible. Here, science and health care join forces towards innovation. We keep finding new ways to help people facing cancer on a global scale. Here we save lives, gain time and quality.