Postdoc position in Advanced Live/Lightsheet 4D imaging of cancer organoids
Posted by Julien Colombelli, on 26 January 2022
We, the lab of Dr. Batlle (colorectal cancer research) and the Advanced Digital Microscopy core facility, are looking for a motivated scientist for a joined postdoc position at IRB Barcelona (Spain), to work on high-content imaging of cancer organoids with novel lightsheet imaging (e.g. Oblique Plane Microscopy, OPM), within the research consortium MACH3CANCER (https://mach3cancer.org/).
Description: We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to participate in the research network MACH3CANCER aiming to apply high-throughput 3D live imaging technology to cancer research involving 3D organoid models. This international consortium will develop and apply cutting-edge microscopy tools that contribute to the understanding of how cancer cells behave in complex 3D structures and enable robust interrogation of responses to cancer therapy with single cell resolution. Screens will include longitudinal live cell imaging assays and use sophisticated phenotypic endpoints with the potential to link to and inform subsequent single cell genomic and proteomic analysis.
New, modular, open source, high content analysis (HCA) instrumentation and software tools are currently being developed to address the imaging challenges associated with 3D cell cultures and organoids. In particular, an Oblique Plane Microscope (OPM) for live-cell High-content Analysis of patient-derived organoids, based on lightsheet illumination, is being implemented at IRB Barcelona by the inventors of OPM at Imperial College based on the most recent prototype developed (see dOPM by
Sparks et al: https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.409781), and will be a central resource in the project, in combination with other High-throughput screening resources (e.g. the LIPSI HTS confocal microscope recently installed at IRB Barcelona).
Altogether, this will lead to enhanced understanding of the mechanisms of drug resistance and more effective high content screens for new therapies.
Candidate qualification: Applications are invited from highly motivated and ambitious researchers with a PhD degree and a strong record of accomplishment. Training in international leading laboratories is a merit. The applicant is expected to have extensive experience in the area of microscopy. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, organizational skills to plan experimental bench-work and the ability to work both as part of the team as well as independently.
Specific duties include:
- Conduct independent research in the area of advanced microscopy applied to research with organoids, including novel spinning-disk and lightsheet-based high throughput instruments.
- Standardize advanced microscopy workflows for organoids screening across four European facilities.
- Develop and/or use complex bioimage analysis assays for single cell analysis in high-content live large 3D image datasets (>100TB).
IRB Barcelona is a world-class research center devoted to understanding fundamental questions about human health and disease. With over 350 scientists from 34 countries, IRB Barcelona provides a highly dynamic environment and outstanding research facilities.
The Batlle Lab is an internationally recognized laboratory that explores the connection between stem cells and cancer and the mechanisms of immune evasion utilized by metastatic colorectal cancers. For more information.
Advanced Digital Microscopy (ADM) Core Facility at IRB Barcelona is a first class bioimaging platform offering a full range of optical technologies, commercial or custom, e.g. confocal, multiphoton, spinning-disk, super-resolution, high-content, lightsheet, nanosurgery or FLIM modalities. ADM actively develops technology in lightsheet imaging, tissue clearing, large datasets analysis, and coordinates the NEUBIAS network. ADM is open access to local, national and international scientists.
Key publications related to the project:
Morral et al. and Batlle E. Zonation of Ribosomal DNA Transcription Defines a Stem Cell Hierarchy in Colorectal Cancer. Cell Stem Cell. 26: 845-861. 2020
Tauriello DVF, et al. and Batlle E. TGFβ drives immune evasion in genetically reconstituted colon cancer metastasis. Nature. 554:538-543. 2018
Cortina C, et al. and Batlle E. A genome editing approach to study cancer stem cells in human tumors. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 9 (7): 869-879. 2017
Tosi S, et al. and Colombelli. LOBSTER: An environment to design bioimage analysis workflows for large and complex fluorescence microscopy data. Bioinformatics. 36(8):2634–2635. 2020
This project is financed by CRUK-AECC (GEACC19006BAT; from the Accelerator Awards
of the ‘Fundación de la Asociación Española contra el Cancer, FAECC)’.
Applicants should send a motivation letter, their CV and the name and addresses of
three references to Eduard Batlle (eduard.batlle[at]irbbarcelona.org), Julien Colombelli
(Julien.colombelli[at]irbbarcelona.org) and to irbjobs[at]irbbarcelona.org (Reference:
PD/22/02).
Job offer and more details here