The laboratory for "Celluar Oncology" (Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Holger
Bastians ) in the Department of Molecular Oncology at the Göttingen
Center for Molecular Biosciences and the University Medical Center
Göttingen is seeking highly motivated Ph.D. students with a high
interest in bio-medical research focussing on the molecular und
cellular mechanisms of chromosomal instability in human cancer cells.
Our research topic:
Mitosis represents the key event during the eukaryotic cell cycle
during which the DNA is equally distributed onto the two daughter
cells. Defects in mitotic signaling pathways are often detected in
human cancer and are directly associated with the missegregation of
sister chromatids resulting in chromosomal instability (CIN) and
aneuploidy. In fact, chromosomal instability represents a major
characteristic of human cancer and is directly linked to
tumorigenesis, tumor progression and altered therapy response.
However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CIN and the genetic
lesions causing aneuploidy in human cancer are largely unknown.
Our lab is aiming to unravel these molecular and cellular mechanisms
leading to chromosomal instability and to identify the molecular basis
for its impact on tumorigenesis and therapy responses. Importantly, we
aim to investigate whether chromosomal instability and associated
defects in mitotic signaling pathways as a major cancer phenotype can
be exploited as the „Achilles Heel“ of cancer. This will lead to the
development of novel therapeutic concepts that are based on the
molecular knowledge of the basic cell biological mechanisms.
Our most recent publications will give a first overview about our
successfull work:
Stolz, A., Ertych, N., Kienitz, A., Vogel, C., Schneider, V., Fritz,
B., Jacob, R., Dittmar, G., Weichert, W., Petersen, I. und Bastians,
H. (2010). The CHK2-BRCA1 tumor suppressor pathway ensures
chromosomal stability in human somatic cells. Nature Cell Biology 12:
492 – 499.
Stolz, A., Vogel, C., Schneider, V., Ertych, N., Kienitz, A., Yu.H.
und Bastians, H. (2009). Pharmacologic abrogation of the mitotic
spindle checkpoint by an indolocarbazole discovered by cellular
screening efficiently kills cancer cells. Cancer Research, 69: 3874 -
3883.
Stolz A, Ertych N, Bastians H. (2010). Tumor suppressor CHK2:
regulator of DNA damage response and mediator of chromosomal
stability. Clin Cancer Res. 17(3):401-5
Kaestner P, Bastians H. (2010). Mitotic drug targets. J. Cell Biochem.
111(2):258-65.
We are using a wide spectrum of cell biological, molecular biological
and biochemical methods and we are using human tissue culture cells as
a model system and a particular methodological focus is on various
microscopy techniques including deconvolution and confocal microscopy
as well as life cell microscopy to follow the progression of mitotic
cell division in living cells.
Our laboratory was recently newly established at the Göttingen Center
for Molecular Biosciences and is part of the Göttingen Comprehensive
Cancer Center (G-CCC). The Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences
(GZMB) i spart of the germany excellence university Göttingen and is a
joint initiative of more than 30 molecular biology research groups.
Major goals of the GZMB are fostering interdisciplinary research
activities, utilizing high-end technologies, supporting young
scientists and an integrated student teaching approach by a wide
spectrum of faculty.
Our lab provides brandnew lab space and state-of-the-art lab equipment
in a highly stimulating scientific environment. In addition, both the
GZMB and the Comprehensive Cancer Center provide a number of research
facilities. Our lab is member of two DFG funded research groups, the
KFO 179 and the FOR 942 (for further information on these research
consortia see: www.kfo179.de and www.for942.med.uni-goettingen.de).
Furthermore, our lab is funded by the DFG Heisenberg Excellence
Program.
Excellent candidates will be given the chance to apply to the
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Bioscinces
(GGNB; see: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/sh/56640.html), one of the
leading and most prestigious graduate schools in Germany.
Requirements for the project:
Applicants should hold a MSc or Diploma degree in biology,
biochemistry, molecular medicine, or related disciplines with a strong
background in molecular and cell biology and biochemistry. Laboratory
experience and a sound knowledge of biochemical and molecular
biological techniques as well as experience with cell culture is a
prerequisite. We are looking for highly motivated Ph. D. students with
a true interest in our topic.
If you are interested in joing our lab as a PhD student please send
your complete application including CV and a brief summary of the
previous research experience and interests and the names and addresses
of at least two referees via EMAIL (as a single pdf file) to:
Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Holger Bastians: holger.bastians@uni-goettingen.de