Postdoc in Cancer Neuroscience

Postdoc in Cancer Neuroscience

EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Lausanne, Switzerland

Main duties and responsibilities

The Kim Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to investigate how neuronal activity and the physical tumor microenvironment cooperate to drive brain cancer progression.

The project

Brain tumors do not grow in isolation. Glioma cells form functional connections with neural circuits, respond to activity-dependent signals from neurons, and actively remodel the tumor microenvironment surrounding them. Our recent work identified a signaling pathway in which neuron-derived neuroligin-3 engages CSPG4, increases membrane tension, and activates the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1, thereby promoting glioma proliferation. The successful candidate will build on this work to define the mechanochemical dialogue between the nervous system and cancer. The project will investigate how tissue stiffness, extracellular matrix composition, mechanosensitive signaling proteins regulate neuron–glioma interaction and tumor proliferation. The broader goal is to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities that arise from the interaction of tumor cells with their neuronal and physical microenvironment.

Qualifications

We welcome applicants with a PhD in neuroscience, cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a related field, together with excellent written and spoken English skills. We are seeking a highly motivated, intellectually curious, and collaborative candidate with strong expertise in whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Experience with stereotactic surgery, intracranial tumor models, acute brain-slice recordings, calcium imaging, and cancer research would also be particularly valuable. Applicants should also demonstrate a strong research track record, including at least one first-author publication in a well-regarded peer-reviewed journal.