PhD position available in Assoc Prof Emma Evergren’s lab at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark

The primary aim of the research is to elucidate the role of inter-organelle membrane contact sites (MCS) in the biology of prostate cancer (PCa), with a focus on understanding how these structures contribute to cancer progression, therapy resistance, and their potential as therapeutic targets. Specifically, the work investigates mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs), providing novel insights into their regulation of metabolic pathways, apoptosis, and cellular resilience under stress. These findings carry direct translational potential for identifying biomarkers and developing therapeutic strategies targeting organelle communication.

Recently, my group has combined histopathological analysis, ex vivo culture techniques, and ultrastructural studies of patient samples to demonstrate a positive correlation between MAM abundance and increased histological prostate cancer grade, which is further associated with a higher risk of progression to metastatic disease (Butler & Evergren, Front. Oncology, 2023).

The overarching objective of this research is to investigate how inter-organelle membrane contacts in cancer cells co-evolve with disease progression to support survival and metabolic demands.

If you are interested in more information, please email evergren@biomed.au.dk.