Postdoctoral Researcher in Cell-Based Immunotherapy

The Faculty of Medicine is a part of Lund University, and is responsible for education and research within medicine and healthcare. Our academic programs are closely linked with the healthcare system and are firmly anchored in the faculty’s strong research tradition. Our research spans a broad field within experimental preclinical research, near-patient clinical research and health sciences research. The Faculty of Medicine, with its 1,800 employees and 2,700 students in Lund and Malmö, is a knowledge-intensive meeting place for students, teachers and researchers from all over the world.

Description of the workplace

The research group Synthetic Immunology is based at the Division of Clinical Genetics, where cancer research of high international quality is conducted with a strong translational focus. The group primarily works in the field of synthetic immunology, with the aim of developing improved cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

Our research focuses on rationally harnessing and programming the immune system’s ability to perform complex functions. By equipping immune cells with new generations of synthetic receptors, we develop and evaluate strategies to enhance their ability to recognize, seek out, and eliminate malignant cells. The engineered immune cells are studied using both in vitro and in vivo models and characterized using advanced analytical methods, including multiparameter flow cytometry and high-resolution sequencing technologies.

The division is characterized by close collaboration between research groups and brings together a broad range of expertise across different research areas. This creates an open and stimulating research environment with excellent opportunities for scientific exchange and collaboration.

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 and skilled researcher who can work independently while thriving in a flexible and collaborative research environment. You will work with the isolation and engineering of primary immune cells to develop novel therapeutic strategies for difficult-to-treat cancers.

A central part of the work will be to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the engineered immune cells using molecular and cell biology methods. The work will include tissue preparation and cell isolation, cloning, PCR, flow cytometry, ELISA, cell culture, and the handling of primary human and murine samples.

The position also includes routine tasks associated with the day-to-day operation of the laboratory.

Qualifications 

For the position, you are required to:

• have a strong ability to work independently and in a structured manner, as well as excellent collaboration skills,
• be able to independently plan and conduct experimental studies and effectively manage and resolve unforeseen challenges,
• have experience with cell culture and molecular biology techniques,
• have hands-on experience with flow cytometry, including analysis and cell sorting,
• have documented experience working with animal models.

The following qualifications are considered an advantage:

• knowledge of cell-based immunotherapy, immunology, synthetic biology, and/or tumor biology,
• experience in transcriptomic data analysis, preferably at the single-cell level,
• experience in isolating and working with primary immune cells,
• experience in precise genetic engineering, for example using CRISPR/Cas9. 

Further information

The position is a full-time fixed-term appointment for two years, with the possibility of an extension for an additional year. The employment is limited in duration in accordance with the collective agreement “Agreement on Fixed-Term Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-02-01)”. The start date is 1 November 2026, or as otherwise agreed.

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, the applicant must have been awarded a PhD, or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, in a field relevant to the position (i.e., biology, biomedicine, medicine, or chemistry). The degree must have been awarded no more than three years prior to the date of the employment decision. If special circumstances apply, the PhD may have been awarded earlier.

How to apply

The position is applied for through the University’s recruitment system. The application must include a cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and how your qualifications and experience match the position. The application should also include a CV, a list of publications, degree certificates or equivalent documentation, as well as any other documents you wish to submit in support of your application (e.g., copies of academic transcripts, contact details for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).