Postdoc 'Overcoming resistance mechanisms in pancreatic cancer and other solid cancers'

Radboud University Medical Center; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

Irregular hours allowance 47%–72%

176 vacation hours per year

Job summary

Radboudumc is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to lead a project focused on overcoming resistance in pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors using peptide-based targeting and nanomedicine platforms.

You will design, evaluate, and translate nanoparticle-based delivery systems to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and enhance chemo- and immunotherapy in vitro and in vivo, collaborating across biology, medicine, and bioengineering teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Molecular Medicine, or closely related discipline.
• Expertise in cancer cell biology, tumoral stroma dynamics, or microenvironment targeted therapy.
• Hands-on expertise in nanomedicine formulation/characterization or targeted delivery systems.
• Solid grounding in molecular biology, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and histological/spatial analysis techniques.
• Experience with 3D tissue models (organoids, organ-on-chip, 3D bioprinting).
• Experience with preclinical in vivo oncology models (preferred).
• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals for career stage.
• Excellent problem‑solving, fluent English, collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design, evaluate, and characterize nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for stromal modulation.
• Conduct in vitro and in vivo efficacy and biodistribution studies in PDAC models.
• Analyze multi-layered data, prepare manuscripts, and present at international conferences.
• Mentor PhD candidates and junior researchers and contribute to ERC project management.

Skills

Cancer biology

Nanomedicine

Molecular biology

Flow cytometry

Confocal microscopy

3D tissue modelling

Preclinical in vivo models

Publication record

English proficiency

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Cancer Biology, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Molecular Medicine, or related

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Researcher to lead a cutting-edge research line focused on overcoming resistance mechanisms in pancreatic cancer and other solid cancers. Using multidisciplinary fields such as peptide-based targeting, and nanomedicine platforms, you will design and evaluate novel therapeutic strategies aimed at reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to potentiate chemo- and immunotherapy in vitro and in vivo.

Key Responsibilities

• Nanomedicine & Targeted Delivery: Design, evaluate, and characterize peptide-functionalized and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems tailored for targeted stromal modulation and enhanced therapeutic delivery.
• Preclinical Evaluation: Conduct rigorous in vitro and in vivo efficacy, bio-distribution, and mechanistic studies using PDAC disease models.
• Data Integration & Dissemination: Analyze multi-layered experimental data, prepare high-impact scientific manuscripts, and present findings at major international conferences.
• Project Leadership & Mentorship: Actively contribute to project management within the ERC framework, collaborate across multidisciplinary networks (biologists, clinicians, materials scientists, and pharmaceutical researchers), and mentor PhD candidates and junior researchers.

Requirements

Profile

• Education: A completed PhD in Cancer Biology, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Molecular Medicine, or a closely related discipline.
• Domain Expertise: Demonstrated experience in cancer cell biology, tumoral stroma dynamics, or microenvironment targeted therapy.
• Methodological Skills:
• Proven hands-on expertise in nanomedicine formulation/characterization or targeted delivery systems.
• Solid grounding in standard molecular biology, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and histological/spatial analysis techniques.
• 3D tissue modeling (e.g., organoids, microfluidics/organ-on-chip, complex co-cultures, or 3D bioprinting).
• Experience with relevant preclinical in vivo oncology models (preferred).
• Track Record: A strong publication record in top-tier peer-reviewed scientific journals relative to your career stage.
• Soft Skills: Outstanding problem-solving skills, excellent command of written and spoken English, and a collaborative mindset suited for a fast-paced scientific environment.

Conditions of employment

• Fixed-term contract: 2 years.
• Well arranged With us, you receive 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and - depending on your role - an irregular hours allowance ranging from 47% to 72%. In addition, you are entitled to 176 vacation hours per year (based on a 36-hour work week).

Compensation

• You will receive a €0.18 per kilometer travel allowance. Public transport costs (2nd class) are fully reimbursed. If you work partly or entirely from home, you will receive €2.40 per home-working day. This way, everything is well arranged—wherever you work.
• Flexible benefits scheme With our flexible benefits scheme, you decide how to use part of your employment benefits. Purchase extra leave days or use your year-end bonus to buy a bicycle with tax benefits. You choose what suits you best.

Warm welcome

We believe a good start is important. Thanks to our onboarding app, you’ll be well prepared even before your first working day. During the introduction day, you’ll get to know your colleagues and our organization.

Changing allowance

If you are required to wear Radboudumc work clothing and change outside working hours, you will receive a changing allowance of €80 gross per month for a full-time position, provided this applies to your role.

Salary increase

At our organization, your work is valued. Your salary will increase in line with the collective labor agreement in two steps: by 3.5% as of July 1, 2026, and an additional 3.5% as of May 1, 2027. This means you’ll see a solid increase in your salary within a short period of time.

Work-life balance

We consider a healthy work-life balance essential. Through inspiring training sessions, mindfulness activities, and caregiver consultation hours, we support you in every phase of your life.

Growth and development

Our online learning environment offers a wide range of training courses, e-learnings, and educational programs—from professional specialization to personal development. This allows you to keep growing and make the most of your talents.

Employer

Radboudumc

Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.

Department

Department Medical BioSciences

Place of work

You will join the multidisciplinary research group focused on translational oncology and targeted nanomedicine within Radboudumc. Our mission is to bridge the gap between benchtop drug discovery and clinical application, bringing innovative therapies to patients facing hard-to-treat malignancies like pancreatic cancer.

Team Structure

You will work within an agile, collaborative team of 8-10 researchers and staff. The team comprises a dynamic mix of postdocs, PhD candidates, research technicians, and visiting fellows, backed by close proximity to clinical oncologists and pharmaceutical scientists.

What Makes This Job Attractive & Special

• Direct Clinical Impact: Work at the cutting edge of translational nanomedicine and 3D tumor microenvironment modeling with a direct path toward clinical translation.
• High-Resource Ecosystem: Access state-of-the-art facilities right on site, including advanced microscopy (confocal and second-harmonic generation imaging), multi-laser flow cytometry cores, single-cell sequencing, and high-resolution spatial multi-omics platforms.
• Interdisciplinary Freedom: Enjoy an empowering environment where drug delivery, cancer biology, and bioengineering intersect, supported by strong European and national grant networks.
• Workplace & Atmosphere: Where You’ll Be Working Modern Labs & Collaborative Spaces: Picture yourself working in bright, fully equipped biosafety labs designed for advanced nanoformulation, 3D bioprinting, cell culture, connected to modern, open-plan office spaces that foster spontaneous brainstorming and scientific exchange.
• State-of-the-Art Equipment: You will regularly utilize dedicated facilities of high-content imaging systems, and organ-on-chip platforms tailored for complex tumor stroma co-culture research, in vivo work witj excellent imaging facility.