Last application date Jul 31, 2026 23:59
Department GE34 - Department of Head and Skin
Degree Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, or Biomedical Engineering
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
YOUR TASKS
Our interdisciplinary research team is seeking a highly motivated doctoral candidate to explore how dying melanoma cells communicate with the tumor vasculature to shape anti-tumor immune responses. Combining expertise in dermato-oncology, cancer biology, immunology, and vascular biology, we aim to uncover how immunogenic cell death transforms tumor endothelial cells into functional antigen-presenting cells and how this process can be harnessed for the treatment of melanoma.
The project will involve cutting-edge experimental approaches, including cell culture, mouse tumor models, primary patient material, flow cytometry, advanced imaging, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and T-cell functional assays. You will contribute to both mechanistic discoveries and translational applications, helping to develop novel strategies that enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by targeting the dynamic interplay between tumor cells, endothelial cells, and the immune system.
You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis.
You will closely collaborate with other researchers with complementary skills.
You will report study results in writing and orally in the national and international scientific community.
You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks.