Doctoral Student in cell-based immunotherapy

Description of the workplace

The research group is active within the Division of Clinical Genetics, conducting world-leading cancer research with strong translational goals. The research primarily focuses on synthetic immunology, including strategies that rationally exploit the immune system’s ability to perform complex functions. The goal is to enhance cell-based immunotherapy for cancer, programming immune cells to seek out and eliminate malignant cells. This research involves developing new complex genetic networks in immune cells, studied through a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, which are evaluated using multiparameter flow cytometry and high-resolution sequencing techniques, among others.

The division has extensive collaboration between research groups and a wide range of expertise in various fields, offering an open working environment.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University

Work duties and areas of responsibility

We are seeking a motivated, skilled, and ambitious PhD student with a high level of independence who is flexible in your work role. You will work on isolating and programming primary immune cells to create new, powerful treatment strategies for hard-to-treat cancer. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of these programmed immune cells, you will employ a range of molecular and cell biology techniques. The position includes laboratory tasks such as tissue preparation and cell isolations, flow cytometry, immunological assays, cell culture, and handling of primary human and murine samples.

Requirements for employment are:

• You should be clearly independent and organized with excellent teamwork skills.
• You should have the competence to independently plan and carry out experimental trials, as well as the ability to flexibly solve and handle unforeseen challenges.
• You have experience with cell culture, molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR techniques, DNA/RNA extractions, ELISA), and flow cytometry (analysis and sorting).
• You have previously designed and performed exonuclease-based cloning (e.g., InFusion and Gibson).
• You have experience isolating and working with primary immune cells (such as T cells).
• You have practical experience performing precise genetic modifications in primary cells using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.

Additional qualifications for the position are:

• Medical degree.
• Knowledge in immunology, cell-based immunotherapy, and tumor biology.

Eligibility

Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who
- have completed a second-cycle degree
- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or
- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998:80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment

Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

Further information

This is a 100% full-time position starting as soon as possible.