Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship
The incidence of prostate cancer is on the rise and it is the second most common cancer among men. Late-stage disease with metastasis has a poor prognosis. Therefore, this PhD project aims to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of prostate cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing improved treatment options.
Few preclinical models of metastasizing prostate cancer exist, but we have established a CRISPR-based mouse model that leads to metastatic disease. The project will focus on identifying the molecular alterations that drive dissemination of the primary tumor and will compare the findings with two additional mouse models of metastatic prostate cancer. Both primary and metastatic tumors, along with circulating tumor cells, will be analyzed using RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry. Gene signatures identified as drivers of cancer progression will be validated in preclinical models using CRISPR-based gene modification. Finally, the findings will be validated using human datasets and samples, and potential pharmacological interventions will be tested in the preclinical models.
This PhD project is ambitious and requires a student with a strong understanding of cancer biology and a desire to work with both in vitro and in vivo systems. Furthermore, the project will generate a substantial amount of data for bioinformatic analysis. If successful, the project will provide new insights into cancer progression, and the PhD student will become an expert in cancer biology and translational research.
The candidate will have a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology or an equivalent field. Candidates are expected to have an excellent academic track record and to have experience with, or a strong willingness to work with, in vitro and in vivo models as well as bioinformatics.
Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 6 August 2025 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 October 2025.
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.
Please contact Associate Professor Martin Kristian Thomsen, mkt@biomed.au.dk, for more information.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
