Associate researcher in Leukaemia Cell Quiescence and Treatment Resistance Full-time

Associate Researcher In Leukaemia Cell Quiescence And Treatment Resistance

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

The research group is part of the Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy within the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. In childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), a subset of leukaemic cells survives chemotherapy by entering a dormant, quiescent state. These cells are thought to contribute to minimal residual disease and ultimately drive relapse. The group investigates the mechanisms underpinning this process using a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived bone marrow organoid model engrafted with primary ALL cells, enabling the study of leukaemia-niche interactions that govern entry into quiescence. This platform is combined with an expressed barcode system that enables simultaneous tracking of lineage, cell state, and cell-cycle dynamics at single-cell resolution. The project is conducted in collaboration with the UCL Cancer Institute, where Prof. Tariq Enver holds his primary appointment. The research team is co-led by Prof. Enver, who is also Visiting Professor at Lund University, and Dr. Virginia Turati, and includes doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. We are committed to maintaining a positive, inclusive and respectful working environment, where colleagues are treated with consideration and professionalism.

The position focuses on investigating how and why leukaemic cells evade chemotherapy by entering a quiescent state, and on developing the experimental tools required to track their fate. Duties include:

• Implementing, optimising and maintaining the group's human bone marrow organoid model, including engraftment of primary ALL cells and chemotherapy-exposure experiments
• Isolating and characterising quiescent, chemotherapy-resistant (label-retaining) ALL cells using flow cytometry, cell sorting and functional assays
• Applying and further developing the group's expressed lineage-barcoding platform, including lentiviral transduction of ALL cells for simultaneous lineage, cell-state and cell-cycle tracking
• Performing molecular profiling of dormant, therapy-resistant leukaemic cell states
• Maintaining rigorous experimental records and contributing to the group's standards for quality, reproducibility and data management
• Participating in manuscript preparation, scientific communication and presentation of results at national and international conferences
• Co-supervising master's and doctoral students within the research group

Requirements for the position:

• A doctoral degree in cell biology, molecular biology, stem cell biology, haematology, cancer biology, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with human stem/progenitor cell culture, such as iPSC-derived systems, primary haematopoietic cells or primary leukaemia samples
• Experience with flow cytometry and cellular functional assays
• Ability to independently plan, execute and analyse research projects
• Excellent written and spoken English

Additional qualifications:

• Experience with 3D culture, organoid models, or tissue-engineered systems
• Experience with lentiviral or other viral vector-based genetic engineering of mammalian cells
• Experience with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing
• Experience in leukaemia biology, haematopoiesis, stem cell biology, or cancer therapy-resistance research
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or training students and junior researchers

The employment is a fixed-term position for 12 months on full-time under the Special Fixed-Term Employment Act (SÄVA). The starting date is 15 November, or according to agreement.

You apply for the position via the University's recruitment system. The application is to include a personal letter describing how you meet the qualification requirements and why you are interested in the position. The application is also to include a CV with a list of publications, a general description of previous research work, a copy of your doctoral degree and any other documents to which you wish to draw attention.