INsTRuCT: Call for applications from Early Stage Researchers for 15 Doctoral (PhD) Training Positions in Basic, Translational and Computational Immunotherapy

INsTRuCT is an Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme. The INsTRuCT Consortium is a research network of leading European scientists from academia and industry focused on fundamental research and clinical translation of myeloid regulatory cell (MRC)-based immunotherapies. A total of 15 doctoral research projects (PhD projects) for Early Stage Researchers (ESR) are offered across 13 institutes in Europe. Research topics range from fundamental to translational science, all at the forefront in the field of MRC-based immunotherapies. Successful applicants will also receive expert training in basic immunological research, preclinical pharmacological development, manufacturing processes, clinical trial design, healthcare economics, ethics and marketing. The interaction of biologists, computational scientists, physicians and engineers is central to INsTRuCT and will challenge ESR to explore complex issues in bench-to-bedside research from different perspectives. Graduates of INsTRuCT will be well-prepared to enter the workplace with an innovative and beyond state-of-the-art view on fundamental and translational science of cell-based therapies that will accelerate the future of the field.

Participating in INsTRuCT offers early stage researchers many unique opportunities, including:

• A project as Marie Skłodowska Curie trainee in one of the participating institutions with the intention of receiving a doctoral degree (PhD).
• State-of-the art, exciting research in an international consortium with highly integrated research projects.
• Expert training in preclinical and clinical development of cell-based medicinal products.
• At least two months of research training in the lab of another consortium member, mostly in a different EU country than the country where most of the project will take place.
• Training in both academic and commercial research environments.
• Salary according to EU guidelines for Marie Skłodowska Curie trainees, including mobility payments and family allowances where applicable.

Eligible candidates must:

• hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in a field of science relevant to their chosen project (see below)
• demonstrate a history of academic excellence
• demonstrate an affinity for Basic Immunology, Computational Biology, bio(medical / process) engineering or translational research
• speak and write fluently in English
• have less than 4 years’ previous research experience and not hold a doctoral (PhD) title
• have not been resident in the country where the host institution is located for more than 12 months in the 3 years before recruitment.
• be available for a personal interview at the INsTRuCT recruitment meeting in Barcelona, 23-25 March 2020.
• be available to start their project no later than 1^st September 2020.

Individual Projects details (find full information on the PDF)

ESR1: Metabolic Programming of Human Monocyte Differentiation

Hosting Institution: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland,

Supervisor: Dr. ZASLONA, Zbignew 

Email address for the applications ZASLONAZ@tcd.ie

Subject area:  Molecular Immunology; Cellular Metabolism

Project-specific selection criteria: Desirable experience in molecular biology laboratory, preferable experience with techniques, such as Western Blotting, flow cytometry and qPCR. Knowledge of Immunology and in particular innate immunity preferable

ESR2: Mitochondrial and metabolic functions of tolerogenic myeloid cells

Hosting Institution: Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany

Supervisor Prof. SAWITZKI, Birgit

Email address for the applications birgit.sawitzki@charite.de

Subject area:  Molecular Immunology; Cellular Metabolism

Project-specific selection criteria Experience with primary cell culture, flow cytometry and an interest in bioinformatics / R programming

ESR3: Engineered Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells for Ag-Specific Immunotherapy

Hosting Institution:  Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

Supervisor Dr. GREGORI, Silvia

Email address for the applications  silvia.gregori@hsr.it

Subject area:  Molecular & Cellular Immunology; Epigenomics

Project-specific selection criteria: Degree in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology or related disciplines with skills in molecular and cellular biology as well as primary human cell culture and manipulation.  The use of FACS/sorter and experience in animal handling is a significant  plus.

ESR4: Trained Immunity in Regulatory Macrophages

Hosting Institution:  Instituto de Salud, Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

Supervisor Prof. OCHANDO, Jordi

Email address for the applications  jordi.ochando@mssm.edu

Subject area:   Molecular & Cellular Immunology; Epigenomics

Project-specific selection criteria: Practical experience of common techniques in Molecular Biology and Cellular Immunology.

ESR5: A data science approach to characterising tolerogenic myeloid regulatory cell therapies in a standardised manner

Hosting Institution: Newcastle University, United Kingdom

Supervisors Dr. LORD, Phillip (primary),Dr. HILKENS, Catharien

Email address for the applications phillip.lord@newcastle.ac.uk, catharien.hilkens@newcastle.ac.uk 

Subject area:  Computational Biology; Data Science

Project-specific selection criteria: As this is a cross-disciplinary project, a Masters degree or equivalent in bioinformatics, or computional biology is preferrable. Also acceptable, a BSc or equivalent in Computing Science, a BioMedical Science (inc. Immunology), with a strong and demonstrable interest in the other discipline. Experience with (some of) knowledge representation, biological data handling, databases or data integration.

ESR6  Investigating molecular mechanisms of human autologous tolerogenic DC

Hosting Institution: University of Nantes, France

Supervisor Dr. MOREAU, Aurélie

Email address for the applications Aurelie.Moreau@univ-nantes.fr

Subject area:  Molecular & Cellular Immunology; Cellular Metabolism

Project-specific selection criteria: Master degree in Science, strong knowledge in immunology and experience with (or interest for) bioinformatic tools.

ESR7 Computational characterisation, classification and deconvolution of  myeloid regulatory cells

Hosting Institution: University of Regensburg, Germany

Supervisors Prof. REHLI, Michael, Prof. SPANG, Rainer

Email address for the applications michael.rehli@ukr.de, rainer.spang@ukr.de

Subject area:  Computational Biology; Transcriptomics

Project-specific selection criteria: Degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics or other project-relevant subject.

ESR8 Development of Pharmaceutical Release Processes for DC-based Therapy

Hosting Institution: Cimaas BV, The Netherlands

Supervisor Prof. GERMERAAD, Wilfred

Email address for the applications w.germeraad@cimaas.com

Subject area:  GMP Manufacturing; Quality Control; Cellular Immunology

Project-specific selection criteria: Strong background in Immunology; Interest in product development; main competencies: flexibility, creativity, can-do mentality

ESR9 Personalized MRC-based therapy: innovative strategies to improve efficacy

Hosting Institution: King’s College London, United Kingdom

Supervisors  Prof. SANCHEZ FUEYO, Alberto; Prof. LOMBARDI, Giovanna

Email address for the applications sanchez_fueyo@kcl.ac.uk,  giovanna.lombardi@kcl.ac.uk

Subject area:  Computational Biology; Personalized Medicine

ESR10 Development and validation of antigen-specific assays for T and B cell responses following tolerance-inducing treatments with MRC-based therapies

Hosting Institution: Sanquin Blood Supply and University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Supervisors Prof. ten BRINKE, Anja; Prof. van HAM, Marieke

Email address for the applications a.tenbrinke@sanquin.nl, m.vanham@sanquin.nl

Subject area:  Cellular Immunology; Personalized Medicine

Project-specific selection criteria: A Master degree in Biomedical Sciences or a similar education level. Knowledge of Immunology is required and a proven track record in research in cellular immunology is a prerequisite. Team player with good communication skills.

ESR11 Development of an affordable & scalable process for tolDC manufacturing

Hosting Institution: University of Antwerp, Belgium

Supervisor Prof. COOLS, Nathalie

Email address for the applications Nathalie.Cools@uza.be

Subject area:  GMP Manufacturing; Quality Control; Cellular Immunology

Project-specific selection criteria: Masters degree in Cell Biology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent qualifications. Practical laboratory experience preferred.

ESR12 Classification of Human Myeloid Regulatory Cell Networks by Machine Learning from Multiparametric Immunofluorescence Images

Hosting Institution: Miltenyi Biotec BV & Co. KG , Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

Supervisor  Dr. KOLLET, Jutta

Email address for the applications  jutta.kollet@miltenyibiotec.de

Subject area:  Computational Biology; Image Analysis

Project-specific selection criteria: Degree in Bioinformatics , Computer Science, or Biology with project-relevant subject.

ESR13: Genes & pathways associated with the tolerogenic capacity of tolDC-VitD3

Hosting Institution: Institute of the Germans Trias i Pujol Foundation, Barcelona, Spain

Supervisor Prof. MARTINEZ CACERES, Eva

Email address for the applications emmartinez.germanstrias@gencat.cat

Subject area:  Molecular & Cellular Immunology; Translational Research

ESR14: Therapeutic Targeting of Mreg – T cell Interactions

Hosting Institution: University Hospital Regensburg, Germany

Supervisor Dr. HUTCHINSON, James Alexander

Email address for the applications james.hutchinson@ukr.de

Subject area:  Molecular & Cellular Immunology; Immunopharmacology

Project-specific selection criteria: Practical experience of common techniques in Molecular Biology and Cellular Immunology.

ESR15 Route of delivery of tolerogenic dendritic cells

Hosting Institution: University of Newcastle, United Kingdom

Supervisor Prof. ISAACS, John Dr. HILKENS, Catharien

Email address for the applications catharien.hilkens@newcastle.ac.uk john.isaacs@newcastle.ac.uk,

Subject area:  Cellular Immunology; Translational Research

Project-specific selection criteria: Master degree in a biological or biomedical science with laboratory experience in immunological techniques