Postdoctoral Researcher – Neuroblastoma Tumor Microenvironment Metabolism

About the role

This joint postdoctoral position is part of the recently awarded NCCR Children and Cancer. It combines the Laboratory of Exercise and Health at ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Dr. Katrien De Bock, with the laboratory of Dr. Raphael Morscher at the University Children's Hospital Zurich, to study the metabolic determinants of the tumor microenvironment in neuroblastoma. The position is fixed-term and based in Zurich.

Key responsibilities

• Establish and characterize novel genetic and/or orthotopic mouse models of neuroblastoma.
• Investigate how neuroblastoma rewires the metabolic tumor microenvironment, with emphasis on vascular and immune-metabolic crosstalk.
• Characterize tumor vascular diversity, organization and metabolic gradients, and their relation to hypoxia and nutrient/oxygen delivery.
• Profile the immune tumor microenvironment and its interaction with the vasculature, using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics.
• Test interventions targeting the immune-vascular interface (e.g. vascular normalization, HEV-like reprogramming) to identify metabolic vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate with other NCCR workpackages to integrate metabolic, vascular and immune data into a systems-level view of the pediatric TME.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, data presentation and reporting within the consortium.

Required profile

• PhD in cancer biology, vascular biology, immunometabolism or a related field.
• Strong research background in cancer metabolism, vascular biology or immune metabolism.
• Hands-on experience with mouse models of cancer.
• Familiarity with cellular and molecular techniques relevant to tumor biology (e.g. imaging, flow cytometry, transcriptomics) is an asset.
• Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for working across two labs and a larger consortium.
• Advanced proficiency in English.

What we offer

• A competitive salary in line with ETH Zurich regulations.
• Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure at both ETH Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich.
• Closely integrated work within the national NCCR Children and Cancer consortium.

Applications must be submitted online through the university's application portal, with a CV, a one-page statement of motivation and research interests, and contact details of two references; applications by email or post are not accepted.