Research Assistant Position at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on cancer, genetic and autoimmune diseases. One of the core ideas at the department is to stimulate translational research and thus promote closer collaboration between medical research and healthcare. Research is conducted within six research programs: cancer precision medicine, cancer immunotherapy, genomics and neurobiology, molecular tools and functional genomics, neuro-oncology and neurodegeneration, as well as vascular biology. Parts of the activities are also integrated with the departments of oncology, clinical genetics, clinical immunology, clinical pathology, and hospital physics at Uppsala University Hospital. The department has teaching assignments in several program educations, independent courses, and international master's programs within the Faculty of Medicine and the technical-nature sciences area. The department has a turnover of approximately 550 million SEK, of which about two-thirds are external research grants. The number of employees is about 400, of which about 100 are doctoral students, and there are a total of over 850 active in the workforce. Read more about the department's activities here: http://www.uu.se/medarbetare/institution/immunologi-genetik-och-patologi (http://www.uu.se/medarbetare/institution/immunologi-genetik-och-patologi)

Job Description:

The research in Yumeng Mao's group aims to understand the interaction between the immune system and tumor cells. The research group studies the negative mechanisms that cancer cells use to inhibit immune cell function. In the current project, the significance of various mechanisms for the immune system's ability to recognize cancer cells is evaluated by turning off individual genes in cancer or immune cells using so-called CRISPR technology. It is then assessed whether this promotes or hinders the ability of immune cells to recognize cancer cells. This project will provide important knowledge regarding how the immune system and the tumor interact and thus accelerate the development of immunotherapy for patients. Information about the group's research can be found at https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/yumeng-mao/ (https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/yumeng-mao/)

Qualifications:

We are looking for a research assistant with strong research experience in bioinformatics who has obtained a master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., immunology, biomedicine, or molecular medicine). Documented knowledge of bioinformatics analyses using R or Python is necessary, e.g., scRNAseq, spatial transcriptomics, RNA-seq, proteomics. The applicant should have experience in two of these areas and an interest in learning about the remaining ones. Strongly meritorious is research experience in data integration and machine learning methods. Experience in isolating and handling cancer and primary immune cells is a requirement, as well as good knowledge of English in both spoken and written form. The applicant should also have experience with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, gene editing, western blotting, ELISA, PCR, handling blood products, and cell culture. Documented practical experience in experimental research work involving tumor immunology and tumor biology research is required. Strongly meritorious is research experience in co-culture systems between human immune cells and cancer cells. The candidate offered the position must be able to collaborate easily with others but also have a good ability to work independently.

Desirable and/or Meritorious:

Knowledge/experience in co-culture systems between human immune cells and cancer cells is meritorious. Previous demonstrated ability to publish scientific studies and present at international conferences is also meritorious.

About the Position

The position is temporary, 12 months. The extent is full-time. Start date by agreement. Location: Uppsala

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Yumeng Mao, yumeng.mao@igp.uu.se (mailto:yumeng.mao@igp.uu.se)

Welcome with your application no later than April 14, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/876.

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