DC6

Project: study macrophage activation in atherosclerosis

PhD position at Amsterdam University Medical Center

This PhD student (DC6) will study new therapeutic targets to modulate inflammatory macrophage activation in atherosclerosis by investigating single cell RNA sequencing data for regulated signalling pathways, relevant upstream regulators and involved epigenetic enzymes.

The PhD student will be enrolled in the AMC Graduate School.

This PhD student will work on identifying new targets to modulate inflammatory macrophage activation in atherosclerosis by investigating single cell RNA sequencing data for regulated signalling pathways, relevant upstream regulators and involved epigenetic enzymes. The fellow will test top candidates using in vitro screening systems for functional consequences on macrophage activation by pharmacological (drugs) or genetics (CRISPR) interventions. Ultimately, validation experiments will need to be conducted to bring forward the therapeutic targets in in vivo mouse models for atherosclerosis.

COLLABORATORS AND SECONDMENTS IN THIS PHD PROJECT

• University College of San Diego: As part of this project, the PhD student will visit the lab of Prof. Christopher Glass at UCSD in the United States for three months to learn new skills on bio-informatics approaches to study regulation of relevant enhancers.
• University of Bern: Another part of this PhD project consists of a secondment period of 2 months at the University of Bern to acquire additional skills in the interrogation of single cell data for druggable pathways for intervention.

ABOUT AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, LOCATION AMC

 The Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam (AMC) is one of the foremost research institutions in the Netherlands, as well as one of its largest hospitals. Over 7,000 people work here to provide integrated patient care, fundamental and clinical scientific research, and teaching. The department of Medical Biochemistry participates in the MIRACLE network together with the department of Clinical Genetics where Doctoral Candidate position no. 8 will be hosted.

The highly translational research in the DC6 position will be performed in collaboration between these departments is particularly focused on macrophage activitation in the context of atherosclerosis, also known as a low-grade inflammatory disorder. 

ABOUT THE SUPERVISORS  

Prof. Menno de Winther and Dr. Annette Neele will be supervising the DC project at Amsterdam UMC.