Post-doctoral Position in Cancer Immunotherapy

Post-doctoral Position in Cancer Immunotherapy

Institut Pasteur

Paris, France

A 2-year, post-doctoral position is available in the Guermonprez lab at Institut Pasteur Paris (“Dendritic cells and adaptive immunity” Unit, Immunology Department). The Guermonprez lab investigates the role of dendritic cell subsets in regulating T cell responses and explores novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

There is strong evidence that some populations of CD8+ cells like tissue resident memory-like (TRMs) or poorly differentiated stem-like T cells (TSL) are associated with favorable clinical outcomes and improved responses to immune checkpoint blockade immunotherapies. However, the anti-tumoral function of CD8+ T cells against lung cancer is severely curtailed by immunesuppressive features of the tumor micro-environment including the onset of T cell exhaustion associated to chronic TCR signaling.

CD4+ T cell help can potentially reactivate the generation of anti-tumor CD8+ effectors but this response is somehow impaired.

The main objectives of this project are

• To analyze the compartment of intra-tumoral CD4+ T cells and characterize their functionality;
• To design and evaluate novel immunotherapy interventions targeting CD4+ T cells based on recombinant monoclonal antibodies or mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles;
• The project will be primarily developed in a pre-clinical murine model of lung adenocarcinoma.

Candidate profile

We are looking for highly motivated individuals willing to bring new insights into the biology of adaptive immunity against cancer and spark innovation in cancer immunotherapy in pre-clinical settings.

The successful candidate is expected to have:

• Project leadership, drive and dynamism;
• A PhD level, preferably without former postdoctoral experience or other with substantial research experience like engineering/biotech schools e.g...;
• Experience with recombinant antibodies or mRNA-LNP technologies;
• A former working experience and training in animal experimentation (mandatory);
• A solid scientific background in immunology (dendritic cells immunology, T lymphocyte immunology, airway immunology, cancer immunology…);
• A strong interest in cancer immunology and cancer immunotherapy;
• Carrer development in academic research will be strongly supported by the laboratory.

Missions

The candidate is expected to:

• Design experiments and formalize experimental protocols;
• Organize and conduct wet bench experiments in pre-clinical models of cancer involving animal experimentation;
• Analyze experimental data and keep organized data archives in compliance with local policies;
• Participate actively to M1/M2 student co-supervision;
• Interact and collaborate productively with other researchers within and outside of the team, including bioinformatic engineers;
• Present data in lab meetings and communicate research outputs in scientific meetings;
• Participate actively to the production of manuscripts for publication.