Description
Are you interested to advance the understanding of T cell signaling to improve cancer therapies?
T cells are the cornerstone of adaptive immune response, and the development of new approaches to tailor and prime T cells is crucial to improve on the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapies. Throughout their lifetime, T cells are constantly exposed physical constraints and mechanical forces in their native environments. Whereas the concept of antigen-based stimulation is well established, how physical stimuli modulate T cell activation and T cell fate is largely unknown. Our team (Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Prof. Viola Vogel) explores the underpinning mechanisms how mechanical cues (e,g surface topography or stiffness) influence T cell activation and differentiation by exploiting nanoengineering, optical microscopy, mechanobiological tools and genetic assays.
The project:
Recently, we have developed nanoengineered substrates, that has been shown a strong potential to substantially enhanced T cell activation and expansion, while at the same time reducing T cell exhaustion (Aramesh et al. PNAS 2021). Currently, we work closely together with key clinical collaborators and experts to validate this nanoengineered platform and bringing this new technology from our laboratory all the way to use in clinical CAR-T therapeutic applications. In this highly translational project, we have several open master positions combining advanced high-resolution microscopy, gene transfer and common biochemical, biophysical, and biological assays. You will work with multi-disciplinary scientists and an early start-up team and learn how to plan, execute experiments and to communicate your results.
You profile:
You are doing your master studies in biomedical engineering, interdisciplinary science, biophysics, or a related field. You are a curious person who likes to question concepts with rigorously planned experiments. You are open to continuously refine and expand your interpersonal and methodical skills by working in an interdisciplinary vibrant team.
If our advertisement sparks your interest and you have first experience working in a lab, you can send your full application (CV, short motivation letter, certificates with transcripts) to Dr. Sebastian Lickert: sebastian.lickert@hest.ethz.ch.
About Lab of Applied Mechanobiology (ETH Zurich)
This project is part of a strong collaboration between the Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology (ETH Zurich) & the Laboratory of Experimental Mechanobiology (HU Berlin, https://mechbio.de). The work will be conducted in Zurich, but there is also the option to travel to Berlin for specific experiments or to visit our clinical collaborators (Charite Berlin).
