Lund University
Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.
Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.
Description of the workplace
The Department of Immunotechnology conducts research ranging from advanced technology development to biomedical studies. The main research areas include immuno-oncology, sensitization, and biomarkers. The modern facilities are located at Medicon Village, where academic research is carried out side by side with private companies and actors from the healthcare sector. A number of important infrastructures are available, including specialized laboratories for spatial omics, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, and antibody production, as well as NBIS (National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden). The department hosts a unit within Display and Selection Technologies, which is part of the national research platform SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development. The department is also responsible for several student courses and offers high-quality education at both undergraduate and advanced levels. Approximately 45 people work within the department.
Subject description
The research focus of this position is within the field of immuno-oncology, specifically establishing ovarian cancer tumor models based on cell lines and freshly resected patient tumor material for evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies. The research group focuses on exploration of tumor immune microenvironments through spatial omics and imaging, development of computational models for prediction of molecular and clinical features from histopathology images, and experimental evaluation of immune regulatory targets and combinatorial treatment strategies. Our objective is to advance precision immuno-oncology in ovarian cancer through translational projects conducted in close collaboration with pre-clinical and clinical specialists.
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in tumor immunology and experience in establishing in-vitro/ex-vivo model systems and conducting functional analyses using such systems. The overall objective is to identify treatments to stimulate cytotoxic immune responses in ovarian cancer and accompanying biomarkers for guiding personalized therapy.
Work duties
The main duty is to conduct research within the subject area, including experimental work, data analysis, interpretation, presentation and dissemination of research result. Specifically, the research work will involve working with cell line/peripheral-blood mononuclear cell co-cultures and precision-cut tissue slices for exploring immune stimulatory targets, and to understand how such targets can be leveraged for therapeutic purposes. The work may include spectral and high-throughput flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence imaging, cytokine profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial omics. The scope of tasks may broaden depending on the development of the project.
Teaching may be included in the position, but up to no more than 20% of working time. Teaching may involve course student lab supervision, tutoring of problem-based learning, or lecturing. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. Supervision of master students will be part of the duties.
The postdoc will be encouraged to actively seek external research funding, and to engage in collaboration with pre-clinical researchers, clinicians, as well as industry and wider society. The purpose of the position is to develop independence as a researcher and to create opportunity of further development.
Qualification requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.
Additional requirements:
- Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
- A completed doctoral degree in a relevant subject area, such as tumor biology, immunology, or a related field.
- Strong ability to initiate, develop and conduct high-quality research.
- Documented research experience in immuno-oncology
- Documented experience of advanced bioinformatic analyses of data from RNA sequencing.
- Good communication skills.
- Good collaborative skills, initiative and the ability to solve work tasks independently.
Assessment criteria
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.
For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:
- A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
- Teaching skills.
Other qualifications:
- Practical experience in isolating immune cells and in cell culture.
- Proficiency in R and/or python.
- Practical experience in analytical methods including multiplex flow cytometry and cytokine assays, as well as associated data analysis.
- Practical experience of tissue imaging and image analysis
- Practical experience from working with functional assays including explant model(s) based on human tissue, preferably tumor tissue.
- Knowledge in immuno-oncology.
- Understanding of the processes involved in translating research findings into innovation and practical applications.
- Knowledge of ovarian cancer tumor biology, and practical experience from working with ovarian cancer.
Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.
petens bedöms komplettera och stärka forskningen inom avdelningen/institutionen samt bidra till dess framtida utveckling.