Summary
The University of Basel’s Department of Biomedicine (DBM) is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in TCR Discovery and Cellular Immunotherapy. The position is offered in the Infection Biology Laboratory led by Prof. Nina Khanna Gremmelmaier. The research project focuses on developing next-generation cellular immunotherapies by discovering novel tumor-reactive T-cell receptors (TCRs) for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancers.
PhD Position in TCR Discovery and Cellular Immunotherapy at University of Basel, Switzerland
The selected PhD candidate will work with advanced technologies including CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, single-cell multiomics, immunopeptidomics, and functional immunology while contributing to translational cancer immunotherapy research.
| Scholarship Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Title | Fully Funded PhD Position – TCR Discovery and Cellular Immunotherapy |
| University | University of Basel |
| Department | Department of Biomedicine (DBM) |
| Research Group | Infection Biology Laboratory |
| Supervisor | Prof. Nina Khanna Gremmelmaier |
| Degree Level | PhD / Doctoral Research |
| Funding Status | Fully Funded PhD Position |
| Location | Basel, Switzerland |
| Starting Date | Immediately or by agreement (Preferred: November 2026) |
| Application Deadline | Open until filled |
Subject Area
Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Cellular Immunotherapy, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Viral Immunology, and Translational Medicine
Location
Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Related disciplines
- Strong interest in cancer immunology, infection biology, and translational research.
- Practical laboratory experience in:
- Cell culture
- Molecular biology techniques
- Immune assays
- Good analytical and organizational skills.
- Ability and willingness to learn advanced experimental and computational techniques.
- Excellent written and spoken English skills.
Preferred Skills
- Cancer biology or cellular immunology experience.
- Viral immunology knowledge.
- Multiparameter flow cytometry and immune profiling.
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing experience.
- Single-cell sequencing or immunopeptidomics expertise.
- Transcriptomic/genomic data analysis using R or Python.
Scholarship Description
This fully funded PhD project aims to identify novel tumor-reactive T-cell receptors that can be developed into advanced adoptive T-cell therapies for EBV-associated cancers.
The PhD researcher will:
- Develop patient-derived in vitro tumor models from EBV-positive malignancies.
- Engineer HLA-defined target cells using CRISPR/Cas9.
- Isolate and analyze tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).
- Perform single-cell immune profiling and TCR repertoire analysis.
- Validate candidate TCRs for antigen specificity and anti-tumor activity.
- Conduct advanced immune assays including:
- Flow cytometry
- Cytokine secretion analysis
- T-cell expansion
- Cytotoxicity testing
- Collaborate with computational scientists for genomic and transcriptomic data analysis.
- Present findings at conferences and contribute to scientific publications.
Benefits of the PhD Position
Selected candidates will receive:
- Fully funded doctoral research opportunity.
- Access to advanced biomedical research facilities.
- Training in genome engineering, TCR discovery, and single-cell technologies.
- Supervision from experts in immunology and translational cancer research.
- Opportunities for international conferences and high-impact publications.
- Career mentoring and collaboration with clinical research teams.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation letter describing research interests
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Contact details of 2–3 referees
Applications should be submitted through the official University of Basel recruitment portal.
Last Date to Apply
Open until filled
(The position is available immediately or by agreement, with a preferred starting date of November 2026.)
Official Source: University of Basel – PhD Position: TCR Discovery and Cellular Immunotherapy
