The innate immune system is crucial to protect the body against pathogens. On the other hand, innate immune mechanisms are sometimes unintentionally activated by self-derived ligands. Such a sterile inflammatory response occurs in auto-inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and it is a hallmark of the tumor microenvironment. How does the innate immune system discriminate between the body's own molecules and microbial ones to ensure an effective immune response against invaders while avoiding self-directed inflammation? What are the molecular mechanisms that suppress unwanted activation of innate immunity? How can we harness sterile inflammation to boost the body's anti-tumor immune response? If you are interested in these fundamental questions, come and strengthen our team! We are using molecular, biochemical and cell-based approaches in our research. The advertised project focuses on nucleic acid sensing and the type I interferon response and has a strong molecular basis. Techniques that will be used include iCLIP technology and deep sequencing to study protein-RNA interactions, and CRISPR/Cas9 genetic screening. The lab is embedded within the Department of Immunology and closely collaborates with the Cell and Chemical Biology Department at the LUMC. The lab is also part of the Institute for Chemical Immunology.

In Short

·       You will be a postdoc in the area of molecular immunology.

·       You will use molecular approaches to study innate immune mechanisms that control viral infection and sterile inflammation.

·       Your work is relevant to autoinflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders and anti-tumor immunity

·       You will be part of a multidisciplinary environment

We are looking for an excellent and ambitious candidate with a PhD Biomedical Sciences or a related field, and with a proven track record of earlier achievements. Experience in the field of molecular biology and/or innate immunity is an absolute must. The project will involve handling NGS datasets and therefore bioinformatic skills are highly desirable. You can work independently as well as in a multidisciplinary team, and have outstanding organizational skills. We expect a proactive and goal-oriented attitude and are looking for someone that can drive multiple aspects of a project. Excellent communication skills in English are essential. International candidates are encouraged to apply.

Fixed-term contract: min. 1 year.

You will be employed on the basis of 36 hours per week. Appointment is for one year with a possible extension for an additional 3 years. Your salary is based on your education and experience and is a maximum of  € 4,615  gross per month for a full time position (scale 10 in the Collective Labour Agreement for University Hospitals).

LUMC

At the Leiden University Medical Center, we continuously work on improving patient care. We invest in groundbreaking, international research and work with the latest equipment. Together with our team of doctors, medical specialists, teachers, academic researchers and supporting staff, we aim for the best quality in health care, education and international research. And we need you to realize our goals!

Department of Immunology

Our lab studies how the innate immune system is activated during viral infection and in sterile inflammatory conditions. By studying the molecular mechanisms that underly innate immune activation, we aim to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention in autoinflammatory conditions and to inspire strategies to promote immunosurveillance in cancer.