Application Guide

How to Apply for Research assistant / Doctoral candidate / PhD student Immunology Infectious Diseases Vaccination

at Charité Center for Global Health

🏢 About Charité Center for Global Health

The Charité Center for Global Health is part of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, one of Europe's largest university hospitals and a leading research institution in Germany. This center uniquely focuses on translational research at the intersection of immunology, infectious diseases, and global health challenges, offering access to cutting-edge technologies and international collaborations. Working here provides the opportunity to contribute to vaccine development and immune memory research with direct implications for global public health.

About This Role

This role involves investigating human memory B cell responses to mucosal versus systemic vaccinations using advanced techniques like flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing (FLASH-seq). You'll optimize B cell phenotyping strategies and study how antigen challenges reprogram immune memory, directly contributing to foundational knowledge for next-generation vaccine design. The position bridges experimental immunology with computational analysis of single-cell data to understand immune programming.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning cell culture or processing of primary human samples for B cell isolation, followed by flow cytometry staining and acquisition in the afternoon. You'll spend time analyzing sequencing data (e.g., single-cell RNA-seq datasets) or optimizing staining panels, with regular lab meetings to discuss experimental design and results with the global health team. The role balances hands-on bench work with computational analysis and collaborative discussions on immune memory mechanisms.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Charité Center for Global Health Is Looking For

  • Has hands-on experience designing and analyzing multicolor flow cytometry panels (10+ colors) for human B cell subsets, with specific examples of panel optimization or troubleshooting.
  • Demonstrates practical or conceptual knowledge of single-cell sequencing workflows (especially ATAC-seq/RNA-seq), even if through coursework or preliminary data analysis.
  • Shows genuine interest in human B cell biology and immune memory through previous research projects, publications, or coursework focused on vaccinology or mucosal immunology.
  • Is adaptable to working with primary human samples (PBMCs, tissue) and willing to rapidly acquire advanced cell sorting skills (FACS/MACS) if not already proficient.

📝 Tips for Applying to Charité Center for Global Health

1

Explicitly detail your flow cytometry experience: list specific markers you've used for B cell phenotyping (e.g., CD19, CD27, IgD), software for analysis (FlowJo, Cytobank), and mention any panel optimization you've performed.

2

Highlight any exposure to single-cell sequencing—even if conceptual—such as coursework in genomics, experience with NGS data analysis tools (Seurat, Cell Ranger), or familiarity with FLASH-seq protocols.

3

Tailor your CV to emphasize techniques listed in the job description: create a 'Technical Skills' section with subheadings for 'Flow Cytometry', 'Cell Isolation', and 'Molecular Biology' to make them easily scannable.

4

Research and mention specific Charité Global Health projects or PIs (e.g., work on mucosal immunity or vaccine studies) in your cover letter to show genuine interest in their research direction.

5

If you lack primary human cell experience, proactively address how you'll bridge this gap—mention transferable skills from mouse models or cell lines, and express eagerness to undergo sorting training.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Connect your background directly to the role's core responsibilities: describe a past project where you used flow cytometry to phenotype immune cells or analyzed sequencing data, linking it to B cell memory or vaccinology.", "Express specific interest in the Charité Center's focus on global health and translational immunology, noting how your goals align with their mission to advance vaccine development.", 'Demonstrate understanding of the technical challenges in the role, such as optimizing antigen-specific B cell stains or benchmarking single-cell workflows, and propose how your skills could contribute.', 'If applicable, briefly mention any experience with human samples or BSL-2/3 work, as this is relevant for handling primary human material in infectious disease research.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Investigate recent publications from Charité Global Health PIs (e.g., on PubMed) focusing on B cell memory, mucosal immunity, or vaccine studies to understand their research themes.
  • → Explore the center's ongoing projects or collaborations (via their website) related to infectious diseases like influenza, COVID-19, or TB vaccination to tailor your application.
  • → Review the Charité's core facilities (e.g., flow cytometry, sequencing platforms) to show awareness of available resources and how you'd utilize them.
  • → Look into Germany's research landscape for immunology/vaccinology (e.g., DFG funding priorities) to contextualize the center's work and demonstrate broader engagement.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience with multicolor flow cytometry panel design for B cells: how do you choose markers, manage spectral overlap, and validate staining for rare populations like antigen-specific memory B cells?
2 How would you approach optimizing a new antigen-specific B cell staining protocol? What controls and validation steps would you include?
3 Explain the advantages and challenges of single-cell ATAC-seq versus RNA-seq for studying B cell memory. How might FLASH-seq integrate these approaches?
4 Discuss a potential experiment to compare mucosal versus systemic vaccination effects on human B cells. What readouts and controls would you prioritize?
5 Why are you interested in the Charité Center for Global Health specifically? How does your research vision align with their focus on translational vaccinology?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning specific techniques from the job description (e.g., flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing, or human B cell biology).
  • Overstating experience with primary human samples or single-cell sequencing—be honest about skill levels, as they may ask detailed technical questions.
  • Failing to articulate why this role at Charité (vs. any immunology lab) interests you; not referencing their global health focus or translational research goals.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Charité Center for Global Health!

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