Postdoc Position at the Tissue Immunity Lab

Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud (Champalimaud Foundation), a private, non-profit research institution, is opening a call for a Postdoc Position. Eligible candidates must hold a PhD or Doctorate degree and will be offered an employment contract with unknown term, within the scope of the research project entitled “Harnessing resident memory T cells in tumor tissue for cancer immunotherapy”; with reference “2023.16121.ICDT” - from the call No “SR&TD Projects in all Scientific Domains 2023”, funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) The contract is to be entered into by and between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate in accordance with all applicable legislation, including Law-Decree 57/2016, of the 29 the of August of 2016 in its current edition and the General Labour Code, as well as the internal rules and regulations of the Champalimaud Foundation, taking into account the conditions set out in the above mentioned Law-Decree for the recruitment of PhD Holders within the scope of research projects funded by public funds.

The selected candidate will:

The position

The Postdoc will work on a project in the research group of Dr Klaas van Gisbergen in the Tissue Immunity Lab at the Champalimaud Foundation. The aim of the project is to understand how T cells differentiate in response to local cues in solid tumors to ultimately employ this knowledge for the development of immunotherapy for improved control of cancer. The postdoc will be working on a research project and tasks will include the planning and design of experiments, supervision of co-workers, writing research manuscripts and presentation of the data at national and international conferences.

The project

In this project we aim to understand the role of tissue-resident memory T cells in immune defense against cancer. Tissue-resident memory T cells are strategically positioned in tissues instead of the circulation to quickly respond to incoming pathogens. A well-defined differentiation program imprints tissue residency in these T cells. Given recent indications that tissue-resident memory T cells are relevant to counter tumor growth, we will explore these T cells in tumor immunity using unique tools, allowing the specific visualization and manipulation of tissue-resident memory T cells. The research will be performed using state-of-the-art techniques in in vivo models, flow cytometry and transcriptional profiling.

The lab

The lab of Tissue Immunity focuses on the development of memory CD8 T cells in infection and tumor settings and the transcriptional and molecular pathways underlying CD8 T cell differentiation. The eventual goal is to improve employment of CD8 T cells for the purpose of cancer immunotherapy. The lab is embedded in the department of Cancer and Physiology at the Champalimaud Foundation that provides a lively, internationally oriented, scientific environment with excellent facilities. The research is strongly multidisciplinary and includes neuroscience, tumor biology and tumor immunology making use of state-of-the-art techniques in in vivo models, molecular biology, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Your profile 

We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague with a PhD in Biology / Biomedical Sciences, who is highly motivated and has a proven interest in immunology and oncology. The candidate is expected to take initiative and perform well in a team and preferably has hands-on experience with animal experimentation and multi-color flow cytometry and/or transcription profiling and bioinformatics analysis. The ability to publish and present the results of your research is essential.

Department: Cancer and Physiology, Tissue Immunity (van Gisbergen) Lab

Website: https://www.fchampalimaud.org/research/groups/van-gisbergen

Number and type of fellowships or contracts to be awarded: 1x contract of 3 years

Application start date: *As soon as possible

Application closing date: 2 weeks or 10 business beings

Expected position starting date: Jan 1st 2026

Required Education Level: PhD in Biology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

PhD in Biology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or related areas

Specific Requirements

Essential skills:

General skills include the ability to independently run a research project and tasks will include the planning, design and execution of experiments, supervision of co-workers, writing research manuscripts and presentation of the data at national and international conferences. Required technical lab skills include in vivo mouse experimentation, flow cytometry analysis and in vitro culture work.

Desirable skills that will also be considered:

Molecular techniques and/or fluorescence/confocal microscopy imaging and/or Bioinformatics analysis

Languages: English, Excellent

Benefits

Full immersion into a research excellence ecosystem with highly motivated researchers, supported by state-of-the-art technology and continuous
development opportunities.

Remuneration: The monthly remuneration to be attributed is the 38 level of the single Remuneration table (TRU), approved by Portaria no 1553-C/2008, of December 31st, updated by Decreto-Lei n.o 10-B/2020, of March 20th, starting at a base gross salary of 2622,59 Euros, which may be increased with other funds, according to experience and performance.

Maximum allowable duration: The employment contract is with an unknown term, and is expected to start within the 30 days after this call closing date. Notwithstanding, the parties may, at any time, wish to celebrate a permanent employment contract. The contract of employment resulting from this vacancy will expire due to the supervening, absolute and definitive impossibility of being given continuity if its respective funding is terminated without prejudice to the communication of its termination to the worker, in accordance with the provisions of article 345 of the Labor Code.

Eligibility criteria

National, Foreign or Stateless candidate(s) who hold a PhD degree in Biology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or equivalent Areas or other related scientific areas and a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals a profile appropriate to the activity to be developed.
In case of PhD degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, the degree must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 341/2007, of 12th of October, and all formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the deadline for application submission.

Selection process

Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call. Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to the required application materials: CV 70% weighting, motivation letter 20%, interview 10% (in case of a tie).
If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation.

Evaluation Committee members

Klaas van Gisbergen, Ines Ramos, Camila Veludo

Application materials

CV and letter of motivation indicating 2 references (one single pdf document).
Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for the formalisation of the contract agreement. Degrees obtained abroad may need to be formally recognised in Portugal.

How to apply

Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed PDF document containing the application materials stated in the call.
The call reference will be asked and not having may invalidate your submission. This call reference is: "PD Van Gisbergen Dec25".

Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Notification of results

All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7-10 business days. The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process.

After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email (careers@research.fchampalimaud.org). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committee's decision will become definitive.

About Us

Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer. Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.

Relevant Institutional Information

In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs, trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.

HR Excellence in Research

Legal Notices

The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.