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Dayton Group

Organoid models of neuroendocrine development and cancer

The Dayton group leverages novel organoid models of neuroendocrine (NE) cells and tumours to recapitulate and dissect mechanisms of human disease including cancer initiation, progression, and drug response.

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Join the Lab

Are you passionate about stem cell research, development, cancer biology, and diasease modeling? We are always looking for intrinsically motivated, highly collaborative, and creative scientists to join our team. Our research themes include cancer cell of origin, cell fate decisions, gene regulation, single-cell analyses, chromatin topology, and genetic engineering. If you are driven by innovation and wish to contribute to cutting-edge science, we invite you to apply. Please send an email to Dr. Talya Dayton with your CV and a motivation letter outlining your research interests and your reasons for wanting to join our team. We thrive on fresh ideas and support our researchers in developing their own projects. The Dayton Lab also boasts numerous collaborations across various disciplines, providing a robust support system for applications to several cross-disciplinary programs. Dr. Dayton is committed to supporting the career development of her team members.

Postdoctoral position

The Dayton Lab is a collaborative research group investigating stem cell biology, development, cancer, and disease modeling. We focus on fundamental questions related to cell fate decisions, gene regulation, cancer cell of origin, and chromatin biology, using tools such as single-cell analysis and genetic engineering. We welcome applications from creative, motivated scientists who value teamwork and are eager to contribute to innovative, high-impact research. Team members are encouraged to develop their own ideas and benefit from strong interdisciplinary collaborations and mentorship. To apply, please send your CV and a brief motivation letter to Dr. Talya Dayton, outlining your research interests and why you’d like to join the lab. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and inspiring environment where scientific curiosity thrives—and where researchers grow together.

Postdocs can apply to a fellowship program aiming to promote interdisciplinary research including the EMBL Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme: Exploring Life in Context (EIPOD LinC). EIPOD-LinC is a Postdoctoral fellowship programme supporting promising researchers from around the world who are passionate about interdisciplinary research. The EIPOD-LinC programme has one annual call for applications per year. Thus, we are in a great position to support applications to these innovative cross-disciplinary programs.

Below is a list of potential partner labs; of course, other collaborations are also possible!

PhD position

We are always seeking enthusiastic students eager to expand their scientific horizons. If you are interested in working on cutting-edge research projects in a friendly, collaborative and international team, please apply through the EMBL International PhD Programme. Established in 1983, the EMBL International PhD Programme (EIPP) offers PhD students an outstanding foundation for successful scientific careers by promoting early independence and interdisciplinary research.” Explore the structure and content of the EMBL International PhD Programme. Two recruitment rounds are held annually across all EMBL sites; please check the website for upcoming dates.

Undergraduate, master and visiting scientists

We welcome passionate students eager to broaden their scientific knowledge and gain hands-on lab experience! As our research is very interdisciplinary, and requires extensive training, we generally don’t accept internships for periods under 6 months. If you can stay for 6 months or longer, please send your CV and a brief motivation letter to Dr Talya Dayon.

Actively hiring

Postdoctoral researcher to work on human organoid models

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on a project using human organoid models to understand how hypoxia, nicotine, and genetic perturbations influence the plasticity of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells and their susceptibility to cancer. We are particularly interested in exploring how chromatin dynamics impact the response to injury, plasticity, and cancer initiation.
Ultimately, we aim to generate genetically engineered human organoid models of neuroendocrine cancer. The project will involve international collaborations with clinicians and environmental epidemiologists as well as the generation and analysis of single cell -omics datasets. Many details of the project can be tailored to fit the candidate’s particular expertise and interests. This specific position is for a 3-year appointment with the possibility and expectation for renewal.
The successful candidate will be intrinsically motivated, and will lead their own project, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and may guide PhD and Masters students in their research. We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who is not only scientifically curious and driven but also values teamwork, constructive feedback, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys generating new ideas and contributing to project design while maintaining a collaborative approach.
Importantly, the candidate will contribute to shaping the environment and research of a young and growing research team.

You have

  • PhD and/or MD or equivalent doctoral degree
  • demonstration of expertise in the form of published paper(s) or preprints
  • strong practical skills in primary cell culture
  • strong molecular biology skillset in chromatin dynamics and epigenetics
  • demonstrated expertise in cancer biology, particularly in the context of chromatin regulation and cellular plasticity
  • hands-on experience with CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic perturbation, including pooled or arrayed screening approaches
  • ability to prioritize, see the big picture, and nevertheless focus on details
  • strong problem-solving skills, ability to troubleshoot experiments independently, and a critical mindset towards data interpretation
  • ability to work independently, quickly set up effective networks and working relationships
  • ability to adapt to new techniques, integrate feedback, and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team
  • excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

You may also have

  • experience analyzing and integrating single-cell multi-omics datasets (e.g., single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, or spatial transcriptomics) is a plus.
  • experience in 3D organoid models
  • skills in advanced microscopy techniques is an asset

To learn more or express your interest, feel free to contact Dr. Talya Dayton directly via email.

Should you have any other questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Talya Dayton directly via email.

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