PhD position in Molecular Immunology
at the National institute of chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia,
within the Marie Skłodowska Curie ETN EU project 642157 – TOLLerant
“Toll-Like Receptor 4 activation and function in diseases: an integrated chemical-biology
approach” - TOLLerant (www.tollerant.eu) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training
Network (MSCA-ITN) project 642157 consisting of 8 academic and 2 industrial full partners
representing 5 countries all across Europe and 3 associate partners, 2 from Europe and one
from USA. The multidisciplinary research project is focused on the study of molecular
mechanisms of innate immunity and potential therapeutic applications, in particular Toll-like
Receptor 4 (TLR4) activation and signaling and its therapeutic targeting.
A PhD position in Molecular Immunology is available at the National institute of chemistry
(NIC), in Ljubljana Slovenia starting from spring/summer 2015 for 36 months. The candidate
will be enrolled into the doctoral program of Biomedicine at the University of Ljubljana and
will perform his research at the Laboratory of biotechnology at the NIC
(http://www.ki.si/en/life-sciences/l12-laboratory-of-biotechnology/).
We welcome applications of highly motivated and hard-working PhD candidates, able to work
in a collaborative environment and exposed to multidisciplinary challenges.
Job Description
The work of PhD will focus on the research of the molecular mechanism of signal transduction
in innate immune response triggered by endogenous signals and potential therapeutic
strategies based on those processes, including the approach of synthetic immunology.
The training program will provide PhD students with broad competences, experience and
skills in the cutting-edge, inter-disciplinary research related to the molecular mechanisms of
innate immunity. The industrial sector will be committed to provide PhD students with
entrepreneurship and company management skills, in order to enhance their employability
by the private sector or even to motivate them to create own start-up companies. The project
implies a series of secondments at academic partner labs in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany
and in the labs of industrial partners in Spain and Italy.
Career Stage
Early stage researcher or 0-4 yrs (Post graduate)
Research Profiles
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Requirements
Applicants should meet the following eligibility criteria:
•
Have a Diploma and/or a Master Degree in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology,
Biochemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy or similar life sciences.
•
Have less than 4 years research experience at the signature of the contract (measured
from the time the Master's degree has been obtained)
•
Not have a PhD already
•
Not have resided or carried out main activity in Slovenia for more than 12 months in
the last 3 years immediately prior to the reference recruitment data
•
Excellent knowledge of English language, spoken and written.
Desirable
•
Experience in mammalian cell cultures or recombinant DNA techniques.
•
Experience in Molecular Immunology
Main responsibilities
The range of duties will include:
 Plan and manage own research activity.
 Follow the doctoral Training Programmes of PhD School in Biomedicine, University of
Ljubljana, to attain the qualification PhD.
 Training students and others in skills appropriate to the project.
 Be involved in the supervision of projects and work presentation.
 Continually update knowledge and understanding in the field and participate in the lab
discussions and other activities.
Application procedures and how to apply
Applicants should send by April 10th 2015, the following documents via email to Prof. Roman
Jerala, Laboratory of Biotechnology @NIC: roman.jerala@ki.si indicated in the Subject topic:
Tollerant-NIC MolImm:
1.
A complete CV (personal details, academic/education history, research experience,
experimental skills, publications etc)
2.
Two letters of recommendations to be sent directly to the same address
3.
Letter of motivation (research interests, reasons for applying for this program and this
host / host institute)
Benefits
According to the MSCA-ITN rules of Horizon 2020 program, € 2.677 € /month (gross amount)
+ Mobility + Family Allowance (if applicable), including social security and health benefits
scheme.
Representative references from the area of innate immunity:
Avbelj M, Wolz OO, Fekonja O, Benčina M, Repič M, Mavri J, Krüger J, Schärfe C, Delmiro Garcia
M, Panter G, Kohlbacher O, Weber AN, Jerala R. Activation of lymphoma-associated MyD88
mutations via allostery-induced TIR-domain oligomerization. Blood. 2014 124(26):3896-904.
Manček-Keber M, Jerala R. Postulates for validating TLR4 agonists. Eur J Immunol. 2014
Fekonja O, Benčina M, Jerala R. Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain dimers as the platform for
activation and enhanced inhibition of Toll-like receptor signaling. J Biol Chem. 2012
287(37):30993-1002.
Hafner-Bratkovič I, Benčina M, Fitzgerald KA, Golenbock D, Jerala R. NLRP3 inflammasome
activation in macrophage cell lines by prion protein fibrils as the source of IL-1β and neuronal
toxicity. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2012 69(24):4215-28.