Recruitment

CLOSED

The Marie-Skłodowska Curie European Training Network: “The Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR):Therapeutics for Non-Communicable Diseases” (CaSR Biomedicine), funded by the European Community is recruiting 14 Early Stage Researchers.

The research will be performed at:

1. Medical University of Vienna, Austria: Evaluation of CaSR - based therapeutics in colorectal cancer; and CaSR-mediated signalling in colonocytes; (2 ESRs), scientists in charge Enikö Kallay and Sabina Baumgartner Parzer.
   
   
2. Cardiff University (CU), United Kingdom: “CaSR in vascular calcification”; (1 ESR), scientists in charge: Daniela Riccardi, and Paul Kemp.
   
   
3. Fundació Sant Joan de Deu (FSJD), Barcelona, Spain: Evaluation of CaSR - based therapeutics in neuroblastoma; (1 ESR), scientist in charge: Carmen de Torres Gomez-Pallete.
   
   
4. University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark: Delineation of CaSR signalling in primary cells and cell lines with native receptor expression. (1 ESR); scientists in charge: Hans Bräuner-Osborne and Petrine Wellendorph.
   
   
5. University of Firenze (UNIFI), Italy: Targeting CaSR in human skeletal muscle cells to delay sarcopenia development (1 ESR); scientist in charge: Maria Luisa Brandi.
   
   
6. University of Liverpool (UL), United Kingdom: Role of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in glucose homeostasis (1 ESR); scientist in charge: Fadil Hannan.
   
   
7. University of Manchester (UM), United Kingdom: Cell-specific CaSR signalling (1 ESR); scientist in charge: Donald Ward.
   
   
8. University of Oxford (UOXF), United Kingdom: Evaluation of CaSR-targeted drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus; (1 ESR) scientist in charge: Rajesh V. Thakker.
   
   
9. Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), Amiens, France: Role of the CaSR in early bone metastasis of breast cancer; (1 ESR) scientist in charge: Romuald Mentaverri.
   
   
10. VU University Amsterdam (Stichting VU/VUMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Ligand-biased G-protein activation by CaSR; (1 ESR) scientist in charge: Frank Bruggeman and Joachim Goedhart.
    
    
11. Biotalentum Ltd. (BIOT), Gödöllö, Hungary: The role of CaSR in the pathomechanism of Alzheimer’s Disease (1 ESR); scientists in charge: András Dinnyés and Julianna Kobolák.
    
    
12. S.A.F.A.N Bioinformatics (SAFAN), Torino, Italy: In silico analysis of CaSR-ligand interaction; (1 ESR); scientists in charge: Luisa Pugliese and Marco Botta.
    
    
13. TissueGnostics GmbH (TG), Vienna, Austria: Generation, validation and application of algorithms for tissue segmentation used in advanced tissue cytometry; (1 ESR); scientists in charge: Rupert Ecker and Isabella Ellinger.

The duration of the recruitment is 36 months.

The objective of this European Training Network is to increase knowledge regarding the role of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in the pathogenesis of major non-communicable diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, and sarcopenia and to educate and train Early Stage Researchers to become excellent scientists, enable them to gain a holistic view of their specific research area, prepare them for the challenges of working in a highly competitive environment, be it in Academia or in Industry.

The CaSR Biomedicine ETN has three main scientific objectives:

1. To identify major CaSR-mediated signalling routes and effector molecules to provide a comprehensive understanding of CaSR-dependent physiology (WP1). Precise characterisation of tissue-specific CaSR signalling and function will enable repurposing of CaSR-based therapeutics for common disorders such as AD, CVD, DM, sarcopenia, or cancer. (at MUW, UCPH, UM, VU/VUMC, SAFAN);
   
   
2. To test the usability of CaSR-based therapeutic approaches for diseases of aging (AD, CVD, DM, sarcopenia) (at CU, UNIFI, UL, UOXF, BIOT);
   
   
3. To test CaSR-based therapeutic approaches for three types of cancer (neuroblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer) (at FSJD, MUW, UPJV, TG).

General job description

• manage and carry out the individual research project;
• participate in the CaSR Biomedicine training and network activities;
• take PhD courses;
• write scientific articles and your PhD thesis;
• participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings;
• research stay at an external research laboratory;
• disseminate your research;
• participate in the undergraduate teaching of students.

Eligibility conditions

The Early Stage Researchers and the Experienced Researcher will have to fulfil the conditions set by the European Commission:

• Early Stage Researchers (ESR) must, at the time of recruitment (i) be in possession of a university degree, and (ii) have a maximum of four years of full-time research experience, including any period of research training. This is measured from the date when they have obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided. ESRs should not be PhD holders.
  
  
• At the time of the selection by the host university, the candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account. For refugees under the Geneva Convention, the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as ‘period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary’.

How to apply

Applicants are requested to submit their application electronically (in word or pdf) to office_casr@meduniwien.ac.at and the application should contain:

• A » completed Application Form, including a summary of technical and scientific experiences, a list of publications, and/or presentations at meetings, names and address of 2-3 referees who will separately have to send letters of recommendation and a » completed Referee form to the CaSR Biomedicine program management office E-Mail: office_casr@meduniwien.ac.at.
  
  
• A detailed CV demonstrating competence, and motivation for science
  
  
• All undergraduate level certificates including university grades. Foreign documents must be sent as certified English translations,
  
  
• The synopsis of the diploma thesis if applicable, or a detailed description of any previous research project and its appropriate work plan.
  
  
• Indication of at least 2-3 preferred laboratories form the CaSR Biomedicine programme and explanation for these choices. This statement of preference will be considered by the selectors, but will not be regarded as a strict commitment by either side.
  
  
• Reference letters from 2 – 3 referees and the Referee form.

Only complete applications sent in will be considered for the selection procedure. The shortlisted candidates, at some of the partner institutions might need to apply also through the institution’s official recruitment channels.

Application deadline is 30. April 2016.

Expected starting date September 2016.

Remuneration

• The ESRs will be employed with employment contract. The monthly living allowance is subject to deductions of employer’s and employee’s contributions to National Insurance, income tax, etc.
  
  
• The family allowance is given only for those with families defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent legal status to a marriage, or (iii) with dependent children, at the time of the recruitment.