INSTITUTION: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences

CITY: Wrocław

POSITION: PhD scholarship in a research project of the National Science Center

SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE: biological sciences

DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT: 03/06/2022

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS: 03/07/2022

THE COMPETITION DECISION DATE: 20/07/2022

LINK TO THE WSD IPAN WEBSITE: http://wsdipan.intibs.pl

LINK TO THE IITD PAN WEBSITE: https://hirszfeld.pl/

KEYWORDS: tumor-derived exosomes, cancer immunotherapy, immunosuppressive cytokines, flow cytometry, proteomics, transcriptome analysis

Wroclaw Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences announces a special recruitment for a PhD scholarship in the research project entitled "Modified tumor-derived exosomes as carriers of molecules modulating the tumor environment", funded by the National Science Center (grant no. 2018/30/E/NZ5/00711) and carried out at the Laboratory of Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy at the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław.

I.          Description of the research project

Tumor development depends on reliable communication and interaction between neoplastic cells and other cellular components of the tumor microenvironment. One of the methods of communication are exosomes, i.e. nanoparticles surrounded by a phospholipid membrane with a size of 30 to 200 nm, secreted by cells into the intercellular space.

The aim of the project is to answer the question whether the introduction of molecules with antitumor activity into exosomes of tumor origin may affect the target functions of these exosomes. The exosomes obtained during the project implementation will be characterized in terms of changes in their content as a result of the modification process and their immunomodulatory and angiogenic activity. In addition, modified exosomes will be used to develop new therapeutic regimens tested in murine models of colorectal cancer and lung cancer.

The obtained results will help in the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies using mTEx in the form of an adjuvant increasing the ability to restore a specific anti-tumor response.

II.         Additional information

The research and doctoral dissertation will be carried out as part of the research project: "Modified tumor-derived exosomes as carriers of molecules modulating the tumor environment", commissioned by the National Science Center (grant no. 2018/30 / E / NZ5 / 00711).

As part of the research project, the doctoral scholarship holder will receive a scholarship in the total amount of PLN 4,500 / month gross during the research project, i.e. until April 24, 2025, and for the last 18 months of the doctoral school PLN 3,000 / month gross, which includes:

- doctoral scholarship, the amount of which is regulated in Art. 209 paragraph. 1 of the Act of July 20, 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1668 as social security costs, as referred to in art. 6 sec. 1 point 7b of the Act of 13 October 1998 on the social insurance system (Journal of Laws of 2019, items 300, 303 and 730).

-and a research scholarship, constituting the amount remaining after deducting the costs of the doctoral scholarship.

Scholarships will be paid on the basis of the contract for the implementation of the doctoral scholarship in the part constituting the research scholarship from the funds allocated to the NCN research scholarships, where the terms of payment and the amount of both scholarships are subject to regulations depending on the Act of July 20, 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal U. of 2018, item 1668, as amended) and the Regulations on awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center in Krakow, adopted by the resolution of the National Science Center No. 96/2016 of October 27, 2016.

Recruitment is carried out in accordance with the Regulations on awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center of October 27, 2016, the uniform text of which is attached to the resolution of the Council of the National Science Center No. 96/2016 of October 27, 2016, the Act on on July 20, 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science and the Rules for Admission to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences na. The scope of work performed in the research project and the terms of payment of funds are specified in the "Agreement for the implementation of the doctoral scholarship from the funds allocated to the NCN research scholarships".

III.        Duties of the PhD student-scholarship holder:

 

The PhD student will conduct research on the characteristics of exosomes isolated from mouse colorectal cancer and mouse lung cancer cells and their potential use in the form of anticancer therapy. Therefore, the duties of the person employed in this position will include:

  • culture of eukaryotic cells, isolation and purification of exosomes
  • analysis of exosomes in terms of RNA and protein content
  • functional characteristics of exosomes (analyzes by flow cytometry, TEM, ELISA, western blots, PCR)
  • conducting in vivo tests in animal models
  • data analysis, preparation of reports and scientific publications
  • ordering reagents and materials
  • team work and supervising graduate students
  • implementation of tasks resulting from the duties of a doctoral student at the IPAN Doctoral School in Wrocław

IV.       Requirements:

  • Master's degree in biology, biotechnology or related fields (deadline for delivery of the diploma: 30 September 2022 at the latest);
  • research interests in the field of immunology, anti-cancer therapies;
  • experience in laboratory work (supported by the subject of bachelor's, master's, and research theses) in the field of microscopic techniques, cell culture, flow cytometry, techniques including functional analyzes in the study of the activity of cells of the immune system.
  • good command of the English language;
  • ability to work in a team, diligence and motivation to research work, willingness to expand one's knowledge.

 

V.         Required documents (in accordance with the document Admission rules to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences):

  • a completed integrated form downloaded from the WSD IPAN website containing: application for admission to the School, personal questionnaire and a declaration that in the event of admission to the WSD IPAN it will be the only doctoral school in which the Candidate will study;
  • curriculum vitae containing a list of scientific publications, scholarships and awards, a list of conferences in which the Candidate participated, along with the titles and authors of the speeches;
  • a letter of application containing a short description of scientific interests and achievements as well as justification of the intention to start education at the doctoral school;
  • a copy of the diploma confirming graduation or a certificate of obtaining a master's degree, or a certificate of the set date of defense;
  • a copy (copy) of the entire index of first-cycle and second-cycle studies (or long-cycle studies), or a diploma supplement with grades for the entire studies, or student grade cards for all years of study, confirmed by the dean's office;
  • English language certificate at the B2 level or higher (does not apply to candidates who passed the final exam at this level during their studies),
  • one or more letters of recommendation (sent directly to ).

 

VI.          Application forms to the School should be submitted by 03/07/2022 by 15:00:

  • in person at the School (INTiBS PAN ul. Okólna 2 in Wrocław) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, or
  • electronically to the address (with the annotation SB8 recruitment), the original documents should be delivered before starting the education.

 

For more information, please contact dr hab. Joanna Rossowska (e-mail: , tel. 71 3371172 ext. 209).

 

VII.      Candidate evaluation criteria:

The criteria for assessing candidates are described in the applicable Regulations on awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center in Krakow, adopted by the resolution of the National Science Center No. 96/2016 of October 27, 2016, and the Regulations of the Wroclaw Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

VIII.     Information clause:

Based on Article. 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Journal of Laws UE L 119 of 04/05/2016, p. 1), hereinafter referred to as "GDPR", I would like to inform you that:

  • The administrator of your personal data is the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, ul. Rudolfa Weigl 12, 53-114 Wrocław
  • The administrator of personal data can be contacted by letter to the address given in point 1 above, or by phone at 71 3709940, and the data protection officer appointed by him can be contacted in all matters regarding data processing via the e-mail account: iod @ hirszfeld.pl or by post to the registered office address.
  • Personal data will be processed in order to perform the administrator's tasks related to recruitment for a research project entitled "Modified tumor-derived exosomes as carriers of molecules modulating the tumor environment", commissioned by the National Science Center (grant no. 2018/30 / E / NZ5 / 00711) and to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, thus your personal data will be processed on the basis of the Act of 20 July 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science (Article 6 (1) (c) of the GDPR), the Controller's legitimate interest in the implementation of the research project (Article 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR) ) and due to their necessity to conclude the NCN scholarship agreement (Article 6 (1) (b) of the GDPR).
  • Providing your personal data by you is voluntary, but necessary to achieve the above-mentioned purposes.
  • Personal data collected in the current recruitment process will be kept during the recruitment period.
  • The person whose data is processed has the right to: access personal data, request the rectification of personal data, request the deletion of personal data, request to limit the processing of personal data, object to the processing of data due to a special situation.
  • The person whose data is processed also has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, if it is found that the Administrator has breached the provisions on the protection of personal data.
  • As a result of processing, decisions will not be made in an automated manner (without human intervention), including not based on profiling.
  • Personal data may be made available to our authorized employees, processors, i.e. those performing activities on our behalf (eg IT and accounting services), and the personal data of a Candidate selected in the competition may then be made available to third parties authorized by law.