진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

The PhD position is part of project embedded within the Marie Curie PhD network centred on mechanobiology, i.e. the study of how physical forces and mechanical cues shape cell physiology. Evidence indicates that key mechanisms of neurodegeneration and cancer, including cytoskeletal alterations, protein aggregation, protein phase transitions, DNA damage response, transcription stress, epigenetic changes and metabolic alterations, can result as a consequence of mechanical alterations. Within this framework, the work to be conducted at the Erasmus MC will focus on defining the mechanobiology impact on DNA damage associated with transcription stress in non‑dividing cells.

Transcription stress acts as a potent trigger of the DNA damage response (DDR), coordinating multiple essential cellular processes. This is particularly relevant in post‑mitotic lineages, where the DDR relies primarily on transcription‑coupled mechanisms rather than replication‑associated pathways. Such mechanisms are central to neurodegenerative diseases as well as in cancer, where differentiated lineages can undergo reprogramming and serve as cells of origin. The PhD student will investigate the molecular basis linking mechanobiology and transcription stress by applying omics approaches, live‑cell imaging, and organoid models. The main objectives of the project are to determine the specific types of DNA damage induced by mechanical alterations, to characterise the resulting transcription‑stress signalling and repair responses, and to evaluate the impact of these processes on proteomic homeostasis. The project is expected to provide fundamental insights into how mechanical signals, DNA damage, and transcription processes impair cellular physiology in post‑mitotic cells.

As part of the Marie Curie PhD network, the candidate will benefit from immediate access to an international community of leading experts and peers across Europe, gain exposure to diverse academic and professional environments, and engage actively in dissemination, workshops, and scientific communication.