Postdoc

Are you passionate about translational research and excited about turning molecular insights into better cancer diagnostics and patient care? We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in translational research, biomarkers, and molecular oncology. Experience with bioinformatic analysis of longitudinal data and dynamic modeling is highly valued. You will join the research group of Daan van den Broek at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, working at the interface of cutting-edge molecular research and clinical practice. Our research focuses on unlocking the potential of liquid biomarkers across tumor types and clinical settings, with the aim of understanding disease dynamics and improving patient management.

A key ambition of our group is to translate innovative molecular diagnostics from the laboratory to the clinic. You will contribute to research that not only advances our understanding of cancer, but also helps bring new technologies into routine clinical care and, ultimately, closer to the patients who can benefit from them.

As a postdoctoral researcher, your work will focus on longitudinal biomarker measurements and data, including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), proteins, and metabolites. You will investigate the impact of longitudinal measurements of multimodal biomarkers across different clinical applications. Grant writing, project management, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and PhD student supervision will form an important part of your daily activities. Because this role spans multiple cancer types and clinical applications, a strong understanding of the requirements for biomarker testing in specific clinical contexts is preferred.

In this position, you will work within a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists in laboratory medicine, molecular biology, pathology, radiology, and clinical medicine. You will design and lead research projects involving the analysis of patient samples, modeling of longitudinal biomarker dynamics, evaluation of assay performance, and prospective validation of biomarker-based surveillance and treatment-response monitoring strategies against current standard-of-care approaches.

Responsibilities

• Project design, management, and scientific leadership;

• Data processing and evaluation, as well as the development of multimodal classifiers that integrate multiple data sources;

• Drafting research studies and preparing scientific manuscripts;

• Writing grant proposals and contributing to funding applications;

• Project management and supervision of PhD students.

Why the Netherlands Cancer Institute?

Science is at the heart of everything we do at the NKI. But breakthroughs don't happen through science alone; they happen through people – curious minds, bold thinkers, people who challenge assumptions and turn complex questions into meaningful discoveries. Around 600 scientists, together with 150 scientific and 150 administrative professionals, work here across the full spectrum of cancer research, from fundamental science to clinical innovation. With roughly 55 nationalities represented, we form a vibrant international community where English is our shared language and every voice carries equal weight. Our institute sits just 15 minutes by bike from the heart of Amsterdam.