Key Skills

Job Description

Job Description Chemotherapy has greatly improved cancer survival, but many patients experience severe neurological side effects during or after treatment. These include peripheral neuropathy, causing numbness or pain in hands and feet, as well as cognitive problems often referred to as “chemobrain”, which can affect memory. These complications can persist long after treatment has ended, severely affecting quality of life and, in some cases, forcing dose reduction or therapy discontinuation. Currently, there are no effective treatments to prevent these severe side effects. In this project, we investigate how chemotherapy-induced DNA damage disrupts gene transcription in neuronal cells and how this contributes to neurotoxicity. Using state-of-the-art neuronal differentiation models, (single-cell) transcriptome analysis, and functional neuronal activity assays, we aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity and identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention. As the successful candidate, you will focus on the transcriptomic and functional consequences of DNA damage-induced transcription stress in neurons. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to new strategies that improve the long-term quality of life of cancer survivors.

Core Responsibilities

Investigate how chemotherapy-induced DNA damage disrupts gene transcription in neurons and contributes to neurotoxicity. Analyze transcriptomic and functional consequences of transcription stress in neuronal models to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Requirements

The posting does not specify formal education, experience, or other candidate requirements. The role focuses on transcriptomic and functional research into DNA damage-induced transcription stress in neurons, using neuronal differentiation models, transcriptome analysis, and neuronal activity assays.