- JOB
- Portugal
21 Dec 2023
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- Champalimaud Foundation
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)Recognised Researcher (R2)
- Country
- Portugal
- Application Deadline
- Type of Contract
- Other
- Job Status
- Full-time
- Hours Per Week
- 40
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- HE / ERC
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
Champalimaud Foundation (Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud), a private, non-profit research institution in Lisbon, Portugal, is looking for a Postdoctoral scientist to join our team at the Champalimaud Research Program.
Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs), which are present in trace amounts in all tissues, act as immune sentinels to initiate immunity. Upon infection or in response to some tumours, activated tissue cDCs migrate to draining lymph nodes where they present antigens to T cells and stimulate immune responses against pathogens or cancer. In humans and mice, the cDC family comprises two major subsets, known as cDC1s and cDC2s, with the latter containing further heterogeneity.
A non-redundant role for cDC1s in inducing cytotoxic T cell responses against many tumour and viral antigens has been established. Whereas accumulating evidence indicates that cDC2s are required for effective activation of the helper arm (TH) of T cell responses – poising cDC2s as the checkpoints for the induction of different “flavours” of adaptive immunity.
In the lab we hypothesise that different subsets of cDC2s are required to activate TH1 vs TH2 T helper functions and that each subset of the cDC2 family derives from a progenitor that has been functionally specified in the bone marrow, the tissue that generates virtually all the cells of the immune system. Given the relatively short lifespan of a cDC in tissues, we propose that cDC2s and their precursors do not have enough time to be fully “instructed” by their niche but rather require to be pre-specified in the bone marrow to meet the needs of these cells at the periphery. We envisage that, during an immune response, there is a distal communication between the site of infection and the bone marrow that allows the latter tissue to modulate the output of peripheral cDC2s and satisfy the cDC functional requirements at the site of infection or inflammation. We anticipate that the organ to bone marrow communication is mediated by the circulation, or intriguingly by the nervous system. This communication axis could ensure successful immune responses against certain pathogens but might be highjacked by the tumour during cancer disease.
In our lab we are following a multidisciplinary approach intersecting the fields of infection immunity, neurobiology and cancer coupled with bioinformatic tools and cutting-edge intersectional genetics to study cDC2s. We propose to study cDC2s considering them as two different ontogenetic entities, in agreement with our recent observations (Minutti et al. Nature Immunology). We are convinced that this approach will unravel an unprecedented appreciation of the functional complexity of these cells. Furthermore, the study of the regulation of the cDC2 “ecology” involving an inter-organ communication axis will bring a paradigm shift in our understanding of the regulation of the immune system to ever-evolving challenges.
The selected candidate will conceptualise and execute experiments, analyse data, and communicate the findings related to one of these questions:
- What is the cellular and molecular identity of the key players mediating the organ to bone marrow communication axis?
- Is there division of labour amongst cDC subsets and what are the mechanisms that imprint their functional properties?
Website: https://fchampalimaud.org/research/groups/minutti
Number and type of fellowships or contracts to be awarded: 1 fellowship.
Application start date:22nd December 2023.
Application closing date: Until the position is filled with a desired candidate.
Expected position starting date: Flexible.
Required Education Level: PhD.
Research Fields: Biological sciences, Immunology
Where to apply
- Website
Requirements
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
- Research Field
- Other
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Essential skills:
- Critical and creative thinking.
- Exceptional motivation to discover and answer immunology-orientated questions.
- Scientific rigor.
- Attention to detail.
Desirable skills that will also be considered:
Experience in one or more of the following:
- Animal handling
- Neurobiology
- Multi parameter flow cytometry
- Microscopy
- Cell culture
- Single cell RNA sequencing analysis
- Gene manipulation
Additional Information
Benefits
Competitive remuneration package commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Full immersion into a research excellence ecosystem with highly motivated researchers, supported by state-of-the-art technology and continuous development opportunities.
Maximum allowable duration of the contract including the respective renewals OR Initial duration: 12 months with possibility of renewal
Eligibility criteria
National, Foreign or Stateless candidate(s) who hold a PhD degree in Biomedical Areas or other related scientific areas and a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals a profile appropriate to the activity to be developed.
In case of PhD degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, the degree must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 341/2007, of 12th of October, and all formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the deadline for application submission.
Selection process
Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call. Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to the required application materials: CV 50% weighting, motivation letter 10%, interview 40% (in case of a tie).
If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation.
When tied, top candidates will be interviewed (in person, or remotely). The result of the interview is then the sole evaluation criteria (basic documentation required). If no tie, holding of interviews at the discretion of the Evaluation Committee.
Evaluation Committee members: Carlos Minutti, Henrique Veiga Fernandes, Ana Luisa Correia
Application materials:
- CV and letter of motivation indicating 2 references (one single pdf document).
- Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for the formalization of the contract agreement. Degrees obtained abroad may need to be formally recognized in Portugal.
How to apply:
Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed PDF document containing the application materials stated in the call.
The call reference will be asked and not having may invalidate your submission. This call reference is: "PD Minutti Dec2023"
Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
Notification of results
All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7-10 business days.The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process.
After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email (careers@research.fchampalimaud.org). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committee's decision will become definitive.
Additional comments
About Us
Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer. Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.
Relevant Institutional Information
In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs, trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.
Legal Notices
The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.
- Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Champalimaud Foundation
- Country
- Portugal
- City
- Lisboa
- Postal Code
- 1400-038
- Street
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown
Contact
- City
- Lisboa
- Website
- Street
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown
- Postal Code
- 1400-038