Two PhD positions (immunology) (# of pos: 2)

PhD positions

There are two PhD positions available in the group of

David Vermijlen (U-CRI)

at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium

The ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI) brings together researchers from the ULB Faculties of Sciences, Medicine and Pharmacy. Its aim is to promote fundamental and translational immunology with research axis on molecular immunology, pre-clinical immunology, human and translational immunology (https://ucri.ulb.be/ ). The team of David Vermijlen (ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI) – group David Vermijlen ) is looking for two motivated PhD students (ULB Campus Gosselies). This project is funded by WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology).

Research theme

γδ T cells are the ‘third’ type of lymphocytes, besides αβ T cells and B cells, that can rearrange gene segments at the DNA level in order to generate variable antigen receptors (γδ T cell receptor (TCR), ab TCR, B cell receptor/antibodies).These three cell lineages have been conserved seemingly since the emergence of jawed vertebrates, more than 450 million years ago. A main difference with conventional ab T cells is that γδ T cells use their TCR to recognize antigens in a fundamentally different way, i.e. they do not depend on classical MHC molecules. γδ T cells can have several roles, including protection against infections and tumors.

Based on past and recent findings generated by the ‘David Vermijlen group’ (U-CRI) regarding thymic development and function of γδ T cells (mainly in human), we hypothesize that:

The two PhD students will work in this research theme, especially part (ii) and (iii).

Foreseen starting date: October 1, 2022, but this is flexible.

Funding: 4 years (2x2y)

Profile: Candidates should hold a Master in biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, cell and molecular biology or equivalent. Previous experience in cellular and/or molecular biological techniques, immunological techniques (such as flow cytometry) will be beneficial.

Application: Enquiries and applications should be made to David Vermijlen at [email protected] . Please email a CV, motivation letter and recommendation or contact details of two referees. Selection will start in July/August 2022 till suitable candidates are found.

Selected publications

• Papadopoulou, M., Sánchez Sánchez, G., & Vermijlen, D. (2020). Innate and adaptive γδ T cells: How, when, and why. Immunological Reviews. doi:10.1111/imr.12926
• Papadopoulou, M., Dimova, T., Shey, M., Briel, L., Veldtsman, H., Khomba, N., Africa, H., Steyn, M., Hanekom, W. W., Scriba, T. T., Nemes, E., & Vermijlen, D. (2020). Fetal public Vγ9Vδ2 T cells expand and gain potent cytotoxic functions early after birth. PNAS, 117(31), 18638-18648. doi:10.1073/pnas.1922595117
• Tieppo, P., Papadopoulou, M., Gatti, D., McGovern, N., Chan, J. K. Y., Gosselin, F., Goetgeluk, G., Weening, K., Ma, L., Dauby, N., Cogan, A., Donner, C., Ginhoux, F., Vandekerckhove, B., & Vermijlen, D. (2020). The human fetal thymus generates invariant effector γδ T cells. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 217(3). doi:10.1084/jem.20190580
• Dimova, T., Brouwer, M., Gosselin, F., Tassignon, J., Leo, O., Donner, C., Marchant, A., & Vermijlen, D. (2015). Effector Vγ9Vδ2 T cells dominate the human fetal γδ T-cell repertoire. PNAS, 112(6), E556-E565. doi:10.1073/pnas.1412058112
• Vermijlen, D., Brouwer, M., Donner, C., Liesnard, C., Tackoen, M., Van Rysselberge, M., Twite, N., Goldman, M., Marchant, A., & Willems, F. (2010). Human cytomegalovirus elicits fetal γδ T cell responses in utero. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(4), 807-821. doi:10.1084/jem.20090348