Ph.D. Opportunity in Cancer Immunology/ Cancer Neuroscience

Ph.D. Opportunity in Cancer Immunology/ Cancer Neuroscience

Start Date: September 2023

Topic: Dissecting Neuro-Immune Interactions in cancer
Project Outline:
Accumulating evidence indicates that cancer and the nervous system bear a much closer, entangled relationship than had been previously appreciated. The innervation landscape of the tumour microenvironment appears to impact tumour progression, but the mechanisms underlying this observation remains completely unresolved and understudied. The aim of our research is to use powerful complementary technologies to address a key interdisciplinary question in cancer – The role of neuro-immune interactions in tumour progression and anti-tumour immunity.

Your profile
We offer a Ph.D. studentship to work closely with an Early Independent PI (Karen Dixon, Ph.D. https://scholar.harvard.edu/kodixon ) within an interdisciplinary team (Zippelius Lab; Cancer Immunology, https://biomedizin.unibas.ch/en/research/research-groups/zippelius-lab/ ). We are looking for a highly curious and motivated student with good communication skills and a strong interest and background in immuno-oncology and/or neuroscience, who is willing to independently work on and develop a research project. Completion of a master's degree in Immuno-Oncology, Neuroscience or Molecular Biology is an advantage.

We offer you
We offer you an environment where you can network, be inspired and develop your own ideas. Trainee wellbeing, including fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming culture, are the foremost priorities of the lab. You will be able to interact and train with highly skilled experts in oncology, immunology, and cell biology and work with patient material as well as with animal models. In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform cell culture, flow cytometry, histology, in vivo techniques, multiomics, bioinformatics, and more. This position is a 4 year fully paid position according to SNSF salary scale for Ph.D. students.

Application / Contact
Please send your full application consisting of a motivation letter and CV with 2-3 references by E-Mail to: [email protected] .
Please specify in your email why you would like to work with us, what lab experience you already have, and which skills you would like to acquire.
References:
Dixon K.O et al, Expression of Tim-3 on dendritic cells restrains anti-tumour immunity by regulating Inflammasome activation. Nature. 2021 Jul;595(7865):101-106. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03626-9.
Zhu C*, Dixon KO* et al, Tim-3 adapter protein Bat3 is a molecular checkpoint of T cell terminal differentiation and exhaustion. Science Advances, 2021 Apr 30;7(18): eabd2710. Doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2710. PMID: 33931442.
Dixon KO et al, Functional Anti-TIGIT Antibodies Regulate Development of Autoimmunity and Antitumor Immunity. J Immunol. 2018 Apr 15.
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