Junior Postdoc Inhalable vaccine

Vaccines are effective training programs for the immune system to combat pathogens; however, they are not yet optimal for stimulating T cells to eliminate cancer. We are developing nanobody- and liposome-based vaccines to precisely deliver vaccines to antigen-presenting cells, thereby enhancing their efficacy in stimulating T cells. Specifically, our focus is on tissue-resident memory T cells (Trm), which play a crucial role in providing long-lived and robust anti-tumor immunity. In this project, we will investigate whether local application in the lung can further enhance the efficacy of nanovaccines in generating lung-resident memory T cells. As part of this role, you will generate nanovaccines and analyze their routing and capacity to activate lung Trm to suppress lung cancer.

As a junior postdoc your main tasks and responsibilities include:

• Developing and producing nanovaccines based on nanobodies and liposomes;
• Analyzing the uptake of nanovaccines by immune cells in the lungs, including macrophages and dendritic cells;
• Evaluating nanovaccines efficacy in stimulating (tissue-resident) T cells and NKT cells in vitro and in vivo;
• Assessing nanovaccines capacity to suppress tumor outgrowth in preclinical mouse models;
• Working closely with our collaborators at Amsterdam UMC on this project;
• Authoring manuscripts submitted to high quality journals;
• Presenting research findings at conferences.

We are looking for a junior postdoc who has the following expertise and experience:

• You have a PhD degree (or equivalent) in immunology, biomedical sciences, oncology, molecular biology, or pharmaceutics;
• You have experience with immunoassays, molecular biological and biochemical techniques, cell isolation from blood or tissue, and working with animals (Art. 9 certificate is a plus);
• Good collaboration skills;
• Experience with preclinical mouse tumor models is a plus;
• Experience with high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry is a plus;
• Excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
• Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 2 years.
• Salary scale 10: € 3.493 to € 5.504 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
• Holiday hours: 190,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

This project will be performed at the department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology (location VUmc) within Dr. Alsya Affandi’s team, which is embedded in the group of Dr. Joke den Haan. You will work in a team of young and enthusiastic researchers, who have expertise in immunology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. This project is funded by KWF grant awarded to Dr. Alsya Affandi, in collaboration with Dr. Joke den Haan, Dr. Febe van Maldegem, Dr. Idris Bahce, Dr. Jan Willem Duitman, and Dr. Marieke Fransen. Our research groups are part of both the Cancer Center Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Institure for Immunology and Infectious diseases.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Watch the video to find out more.