The project focusses on the development and preclinical testing of novel immune interventions against cancer using immune cells and interfering with their regulatory mechanisms. The project is part of an international collaboration funded by the EU. Next to the UMC Utrecht, research labs from Oxford, Amsterdam, Bonn and Stockholm participate in this consortium. Regular interactions and online and onsite consortium meetings ensure a thriving international collaborative research network.

Your role will be to investigate novel immune checkpoint targeting strategies using genetically engineered immune cells in various preclinical models such as 2D, 3D tumor models as well as conducting in vivo experiments using xenograft-based immunotherapy mouse-models that are established in the department. Next to effectivity, you will investigate the mechanism of action of these novel strategies using e.g. gene editing technologies.

The position is embedded within the UMC Utrecht at the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI). The CTI hosts all basic, translational and clinical immunological research in the UMC Utrecht. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to effectively translate basic knowledge on the pathways that underlie inflammation and cancer into clinical practice. As employee of the CTI you will be exposed to and connected with fundamental and clinical immunologists, providing an excellent training environment.

The work will be carried out as collaboration between the Inhibitory receptor lab (Prof Linde Meyaard, expert on immune checkpoint mechanisms ) and the Tumor Immunology lab (dr Zsolt Sebestyen, specialized in preclinical tumor models for cellular immunotherapy). A unique research pipeline from fundamental to translational and clinical research has been established.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative team player who knows what it takes to do world class, interdisciplinary research and who enjoys carrying out research and taking initiative. Someone with excellent communication skills, an eye for the work to be done and the ambition to perform well.

• You are a highly motivated tumor immunologist with a completed PhD.
• Experience with animal work (Article 9 certificate) is required.
• You can communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English.
• Experience with isolating, culturing and studying primary human immune cells and translating this knowledge into pre-clinically applicable protocols is a plus.
• Experience with gene editing technologies is a plus.

• A salary between €3493 and €5504 gross per month (salary scale 10), based on full-time employment (36 hours).
• Salary increase of 3% from July 2025, according to the collective labor agreement (cao).
• The position is for a period of one year with the aim to extend the position with an additional year in case of good performance.
• Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution.
• 100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way).
• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally.
• The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.