International MSCA PhD student – Decoding the Cancer Dark Proteome

At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Agami group will participate in ORFeus, a recently approved Horizon Europe 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme. Bringing together teams from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, and Germany, ORFeus aims to decode the dark proteome in cancer. We are looking for an ambitious, collaborative, and self-motivated wet-lab PhD student from outside of the Netherlands to join the rapidly expanding research field exploring the ‘Dark Proteome’.

Our group recently discovered that cancer cells are prone to producing translation errors under metabolic stress (e.g., Bartok et al., Nature 2020; Pataskar et al., Nature 2022; and Nagel et al., Cancer Res 2026). We aim to advance our understanding of why stress-induced mistranslation is cancer-specific, how it is regulated, whether it contributes to cancer phenotypes such as metastasis and drug resistance, and how we can utilize this information to develop novel cancer therapies.

Your role

The project offers excellent academic training alongside unique opportunities to collaborate closely with leading laboratories in genomics, proteomics, immunology, and technology development across Europe. The successful candidate will experimentally identify, characterize, assess, and validate dark protein expression and function to influence cell states and neighboring cells, and to modulate anti-tumor immune responses. You will be expected to develop novel technologies to detect dark proteins and assess their utility in improving tumor control. In addition to contributing to a collaborative, team-driven research program, the successful candidate will have ample opportunities to pursue independent scientific ideas aligned with the broader research goals. The role requires an innovative and critical mind to define key biological questions and design robust experimental strategies to address them.

In short, you will:

• Lead the development of in vitro model systems that will allow the detection of dark proteins and to assess their impact on cellular functions.

• Translate your findings to cancer (immuno) therapies.

• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary international team of pioneers in the ‘Dark Proteome’ field.

Why this PhD?

• Cutting-edge ‘Dark Proteome’ science: be part of a fast-growing dark proteome initiative aimed at developing strategies to improve cancer outcomes.

• Innovative experimental platforms: develop and apply state-of-the-art in vitro detection models to unravel how dark proteins modulate cancer phenotypes and influence anti-tumor immunity.

• Interdisciplinary European collaboration: join a highly collaborative environment linking molecular biologists, immunologists, bioinformaticians, technology developers, animal modelers, and clinicians to tackle complex biological questions from multiple angles.

• High-visibility research output: support to publish in leading journals and present at major international conferences.

• Career development and training: structured mentorship and opportunities to supervise Master’s students. Opportunity to visit top labs in Europe for training in new technologies.

• Independence and project ownership: space to develop your own research ideas within the broader program and build an independent scientific profile.

• Worldwide exposure: the ORFeus consortium offers access to pioneer European scientists and their research groups.

• Well supported: the Netherlands Cancer Institute offers an inspiring scientific environment, strong core facilities, and a vibrant international community in the heart of Amsterdam.

Why the Netherlands Cancer Institute?

At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, we have a shared goal: providing the best care for every patient and every type of cancer. Quite a lot, but not impossible. Here, science and health care join forces towards innovation. We keep finding new ways to help people facing cancer on a global scale. Here we save lives, gain time and quality.

To be eligible for this position, candidates must meet the MSCA mobility requirement and must not have resided or worked in the Netherlands for more than 1 year in the past 3 years. Furthermore:

• Practical experience and theoretical knowledge with mRNA translation in cancer.

• A strong scientific curiosity about how the dark proteome.

• Can work independently.

• Like to initiate collaborations within and outside the team.

• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English.

• Prior experience in immunology is a plus.

• Basic computational and bioinformatics experience is a plus.

Your development opportunities and employment conditions

The basis for your employment conditions is in accordance with the CLA Hospitals. You will receive from us:

• A contract for four years, for 36 hours per week;

• A gross monthly salary between €3.813,- and €4.629,-, based on a 36-hour working week, in line with the PhD scale and depending on your previous PhD experience;

• 144 holiday hours and 57 hours of Personal Life Budget, with full-time employment;

• Annual holiday pay of 8.33% and a fixed end-of-year bonus of 8.33%;

• A travel allowance of €0.23 per km;

• Free parking at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. And with our bicycle plan and discount on public transport we also make it attractive for you to leave the car at home;

• A great opportunity in a specialised hospital where you can also continue to learn and grow yourself if you wish: the AVL Academy offers innovative and inspiring education in the field of oncology professional knowledge, skills and personal development;

• Opportunity to exercise at our Fit Boutiqs;

• An active PhD council.

Interested?

We are curious about your talent! Will you be the one to make a difference in the world of cancer care and research? Please submit your application by using the apply/solliciteer button. Please provide a cover letter, list of references, and a CV with publications and presentations, and grades from your bachelor’s and master’s degrees attached (if available). Make sure to include all your information in one or two files, as there is no option to submit everything separately.

For further information about the position, please contact Prof. Reuven Agami, via r.agami@nki.nl.

The vacancy is open for applications until July 1, 2026.