The CECAD Postdoc Grant (maximum) includes a bench fee of 10.000 EUR per year and the salary for a technical assistant for the duration of 2 years. The grant offers postdocs with the goal of pursuing an academic career seed funding to implement an independent scientific project, the results of which provide the basis for scientific independence as a group leader.
About their scientific projects
Matthias Rübsam
Matthias Rübsam was selected for the project "Cytoskeletal control of epidermal differentiation and barrier function in healthy, diseased and aged skin". During his period as a PhD student and postdoctoral researcher Matthias' main research interest has been in understanding interactions between different types of living cells in the lower epidermis and how molecular mechanisms control shape and positioning of tight junctions within this tissue which ultimately leads to a barrier formation against dehydration and external challenges.
With this new project he will transfer his knowledge about cell- and tissue cooperation of lower epidermal layers to understanding the formation of the stratum corneum, the uppermost epidermal layer. While working on this grant project, Matthias will focus on the formation of this layer and interaction between still living and dead cells, called corneocytes. He will further analyze cause and consequence of alterations of the stratum corneum in diseased and aged skin. To implement this project, he received 10.000 EUR bench fee and the salary of a technical assistant for the duration of 2 years.
Gisela Slaats
Gisela Slaats applied with a project called "DNA replication stress and genome instability: Mechanisms of chronic renal degeneration and ageing". During her work as PhD student in the Netherlands and postdoctoral researcher and EMBO fellow in the Nephrolab, Gisela investigated the molecular and cell biological pathomechanisms underlying renal ciliopathies. She contributed significantly to linking ciliopathy-related renal degeneration and fibrosis to DNA damage response signaling.
With this new project she continues to systematically investigate the impact of DNA replication stress and genome instability in tubular epithelial cells on the maintenance of kidney architecture and kidney function, and on renal ageing, as well as on the development of future therapeutic strategies. CECAD will support her project with a bench fee of 10.000 EUR bench fee per year for the duration of 2 years.