We are looking for two PhD students in experimental immunology, who are interested in interdisciplinary immunological research on T-cell memory in health and disease. Our main goals are to understand how long-term T-cell memory is maintained throughout the body, how T-cell immunity is affected by healthy ageing, and how the immune system reconstitutes after severe lymphopenia. We use state-of-the-art techniques including stable isotope labelling to study the in vivo kinetics of lymphocytes, barcoded T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and scRNA-sequencing to study the relationships between different T-cell subsets, and mathematical models and bioinformatic analyses to interpret the experimental data. The latter analyses will be performed in close collaboration with modellers working in our team. The experimental work will involve both analyses on human samples and on samples from so-called wildling mice, which have a more natural immune system than standard laboratory mice.

The candidates should have a MSc degree in an appropriate discipline (such as Biology, Medical Biology or Medicine) or a related science. Experience in experimental immunology and with animal experiments is desirable.

The maximum salary for this position (36 hours) is € 3.196,00 gross per month based on full-time employment. This job is based on a permanent position, starting with a contract for a year.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

Leukocyte Dynamics Group

You will work in the Leukocyte Dynamics Group run by José Borghans and Kiki Tesselaar, which is part of the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI) at the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, the Netherlands. The group performs research at the interface between experimental and computational immunology. The CTI concentrates top expertise on immunology in one center and is responsible for all research on immunological diseases at UMC Utrecht, with the aim to improve the diagnostics and treatment of patients. 

We offer two PhD positions, each for the duration of four years. The posts are full-time, and will start in the summer or fall of 2021.