Maitre Assistant position in Immunology
Position: Maître-assistant·e (100%)
Start date: 1 May 2026
Location: University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology (PATIM)
The University of Geneva (UNIGE) offers a dynamic multicultural research environment, with state-of-the-art technologies and strong scientific interactions across departments. The Faculty of Medicine benefits from — and contributes to — this international environment through excellence in teaching, research, and its partnership with the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG).
The laboratory of Professor Simone Becattini (Department of Pathology and Immunology, PATIM) is seeking a Maître-assistant·e (100%) to strengthen its team.
Project
The selected candidate will investigate the role of GCNT2-mediated glycosylation in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), a poorly understood but potentially crucial mechanism in the regulation of intestinal immunity.
Our preliminary work in mice indicates that GCNT2-dependent glycosylation influences IEL proliferation and activation, suggesting a key function in maintaining tolerance–inflammation balance at the mucosal surface. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind these observations remain unclear.
This multidisciplinary project aims to elucidate how GCNT2-driven glycan modifications modulate IEL signalling and function, using a combination of immunology, transcriptomics, glycomics, and tissue imaging, in collaboration with national and international experts in mucosal immunity, glycobiology, and bioinformatics.
Your profile
You hold a PhD in Life Sciences (immunology, microbiology, or cellular biology) and bring strong hands-on experience in:
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Cellular immunology: murine T cell isolation/culture, T–DC co-cultures, multicolour flow cytometry (phenotyping, proliferation, cytokine analysis).
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Molecular biology: CRISPR or related gene editing, cloning, transcriptional analyses (qPCR, RNA-seq), gene regulation studies (promoters, reporter assays).
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Glycobiology and membrane biochemistry: extraction and characterization of glycoproteins, GCNT2-related glycosylation assays (enzymology, glycomic profiling), protein–membrane interaction studies.
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Mouse models: infection and tumor models, histological and immunological analysis of intestinal tissues.
You have at least 6 years of academic research experience in immunology or microbiology, a strong publication record with first-author papers as a PhD student and postdoc, excellent command of English (C1), and strong organizational and communication skills.
We offer
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A multicultural and collaborative scientific environment
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Access to cutting-edge technological platforms (flow cytometry, imaging, -omics)
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Integration in an interdisciplinary network of national and international collaborators
Application
If this profile matches your experience and aspirations, we look forward to receiving your application (motivation letter, CV, diplomas, and at least 2 references).
Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the UNIGE portal >>HERE