Research assistant / Doctoral candidate / PhD student Immunology Infectious Diseases Vaccination

Core responsibilities include:

• Explore phenotypic and molecular features of antigen-specific human memory B cells shaped by mucosal priming versus systemic vaccinations
• Optimize flow cytometry-based antigen-specific B cell stainings and phenotyping strategies
• Establish, benchmark, and apply single-cell ATAC- and RNA-sequencing workflows (FLASH-seq)
• Investigate how antigen challenges and rechallenges affect human memory B cells to advance understanding of immune memory programming

This research advances fundamental understanding of human immune memory mechanisms, which can lead to new ways to detect, prevent, and modify infection courses and outcomes through vaccination and immunology research.

Required qualifications include:

• Solid background in immunology or molecular cell biology with strong interest in human B cell biology and immune memory
• Hands-on experience with flow cytometry including multicolor panel design, data acquisition, and analysis
• Experience in cell isolation techniques with primary human material (FACS and/or MACS) or willingness to acquire advanced sorting skills
• Basic practical or conceptual experience with single-cell sequencing technologies or strong interest in learning these methods
• Ability to perform basic bioinformatic analyses of single-cell datasets or strong willingness to acquire these skills
• Very good written and spoken English communication skills

Benefits include:

• Salary group E13 TVöD (German public sector pay scale)
• Part-time position (65% of full-time)
• 30 days of vacation standard
• Regular working hours with excellent working atmosphere and family-friendly department
• Extensive free training and continuing education opportunities including university studies
• Company pension plan for additional security in old age
• Discounts on shopping, travel, and sports activities
• Bicycle leasing through JobRad and discounted bicycle clinic on campus
• Well-structured onboarding process with friendly colleagues
• Intercultural team events