Langerhans Research Cell Lab Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Allergology
Organisation/Company Medical University of Innsbruck Department Langerhans Research Cell Lab Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Allergology Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Biological sciences » Biology Pharmacological sciences » Clinical pharmacology Medical sciences » Cancer research Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Austria Application Deadline 30 Apr 2025 - 00:00 (Europe/Brussels) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101168810 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
T-RAFIC – Tracking and controlling therapeutic immune cells in cancer is a Doctoral Network of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program co-funded by the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the UK Government.
Who we are
T-RAFIC is a scientific network comprising 13 academic and four industrial partners from nine European countries. Its mission is to train the next generation of experts in the field of cell therapies of cancer.
T-RAFIC starts on March 1st, 2025, and will run for four years. Each Doctoral Candidate (DC) will be employed at a host institution for up to 36 months, working on a dedicated scientific project while preparing a doctorate.
A structured training program will bring together all DC for scientific meetings, skill development workshops, career events and international conferences. Additionally, the DC will undertake several secondments at different institutions within the network to gain specialized knowledge and acquire essential methodologies for their research projects.
Scientific Scope
Cancer immunotherapies have been established in a growing number of clinical indications and the pace of development is massively accelerating. Currently, over 6,000 clinical trials are investigating immune-related treatments in oncology, especially in combinations. It includes both adoptive cellular therapies and immune modulating treatments such as immune checkpoint blockade. In contrast, the understanding of how such therapies mediate their mode of action is still mostly poorly understood. In particular, the role of distribution and relocation of immune cells after therapeutic interventions remains unknown. This is surprising, as immune cell interactions are a hallmark of therapeutic immune responses. T-RAFIC will enhance understanding of immune cell trafficking under therapeutic influence. It will open new paths and avenues to treatments, boost their efficacy, and help prioritize the plethora of immune therapeutic combinations. In the past, detailed analysis of cellular distributions faced technical barriers. Advances in technologies now permit tracking and visualization of cells in vitro and in vivo at an unprecedented resolution, allowing for the first time studies on immune cells under therapeutic influence. This emerging field of research has enormous potential and key importance for the next generation of researchers in oncology and beyond. However, experts in this field are missing, and this threatens European research, development, and medicine. Therefore, T-RAFIC joins forces of 13 academic and four industrial partners from nine European countries to conduct an innovative and interdisciplinary approach combining cell imaging with bioinformatics, cell engineering, and clinician expertise. The network bundles recognized expertise in cancer immunotherapies, empowering European research and innovation and ensuring sustainable cooperation in science and training.
Open position:
* Project 12 (DC10): Dendritic cell - T cell interaction in response to tumor-targeted therapy in melanoma. In Austria, Innsbruck, at Medical University of Innsbruck, supervised by Patrizia Stoitzner. Indicative monthly gross salary: 4,214.20€
Specific requirements for this position: expertise with mouse tumor models, immunological assays, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry of tumor tissue, optional: cell death and DAMP release assays.
Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering, Biological sciences » Biology, Pharmacological sciences » Clinical pharmacology, Medical sciences » Cancer research
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We seek excellent scientists seeking to obtain a doctorate, holding a Master’s degree or equivalent in natural sciences or related disciplines (such as medicine or pharmacy); practical skills in modern laboratory work, preferentially combined with experience in animal experiments are required.
Your profile: doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. You cannot have spent more than 12 months within the past 36 months in the country where the position you are applying for is located (mobility rule); you must be proficient in the English language both written and spoken (proof required).
We offer: Cutting edge research projects and training with leading experts in the field of cell and immune therapy; employment contract up to three years with the benefits of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie program with the possibility of earning a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent).
Selection process:
* The first stage consists of sending your documents and filling out the required information within the application portal of T-RAFIC by April 30, 2025. Please note that we will only evaluate fully completed application forms that are submitted via the application portal of T-RAFIC before the deadline.
* Second stage: Selected candidates from the first stage will be invited for an interview, possibly remotely, with the supervisor of the position for which the candidates have applied. Application or travel costs cannot be reimbursed.
Criteria of selection:
The same procedure and criteria of selection will apply for all positions.
1. First stage of selection:
a. Eligibility check carried out by T-RAFIC management team:
* The candidates have not been awarded a doctoral degree and wish to obtain a doctorate. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
* The candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment.
Only candidates that fully meet criteria of eligibility will be assessed by the supervisors.
b. Assessment of the application forms by the Project Leaders and their team supervising the position which has been selected as the first choice by the candidates:
* Quality of education (degrees and transcript)
* Education matching to the skills required
* Quality of research experience
* Research experience matching to required skills
* Quality of language skills
* Quality of references
* General evaluation of profile based on motivations and personal skills
* Experience of Mobility (geographical, sectoral, virtual)
The Project Leaders of T-RAFIC will have the opportunity to assess candidates who have selected their projects as second or third choice. This will depend on the primary outcome of evaluation.
2. Second stage of selection:
* Quality of the presentation
* General evaluation of profile depending on motivations and personal skills
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