PhD position in Immunology (Team Adamo / Binder Lab 100%)

The Department of Biomedicine is a joint effort between the University of Basel and the University Hospitals Basel. It unites basic and clinical scientists to advance our understanding of health and disease and to develop pioneering therapies benefiting the lives of patients in areas of unmet need.

With more than 70 research groups and 800 employees, the Department of Biomedicine is the largest department at the University. We are located in the heart of Basel at 6 different locations. Be part of our future!

Dr. Sarah Adamo offers a PhD position on immunological memory within the group of Prof. Mascha Binder. Dr. Adamo's research focuses on the study of human B and T cell memory in the context of infection, vaccination and cancer. Research in the Binder group addresses translational aspects in immuno-oncology, with a strong focus on improving immunotherapy and develop novel targeted antibody-based and cellular treatment approaches for hematological and solid cancers.

Your position

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge experimental methods, including CRISPR-Cas9, single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing, advanced high-parameter flow-cytometry, as well as murine models and human organoid technology to investigate mechanisms of longevity of immunological T and B cell memory.

A strong interest in quantitative disciplines, willingness to work with animal (mouse) models, and excellent teamwork and communication skills in English are required. The PhD candidate will be expected to take an active role in shaping the project, supported by Dr. Adamo and close collaboration partners, within an environment that encourages academic freedom and scientific independence.

In line with our and Uni Basel values (https://www.unibas.ch/en/Research/Values-Ethics/Diversity-and-Inclusion.html), we are committed to sustain and promote an inclusive culture, ensure equal opportunities and value diversity and respect in our working and learning environment.

Your main tasks will be:

• Establishing models of B and T cell priming in human lymphoid organoids.
• Performing characterization of organoids and primary samples with flow cytometry and single cell sequencing approaches.
• Analysing and visualizing high-dimensional data.
• Engineering of T cell receptors with CRISPR-Cas9.
• Testing B and T cell priming conditions in organoids and mouse models of infection.
• Support and preparation of scientific reports and journal articles.

Your profile

• Master's degree in Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medicine, or related fields.
• Experience in designing and running experiments in the laboratory.
• Willingness to work with mice.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Any of the following will be a plus: experience in working with mice, training in laboratory animal science (LTK, FELASA or equivalent), experience in flow cytometry and/or scRNAsequencing.

We offer you

• Access to state-of-the-art research equipment in flow cytometry, DNA and RNA sequencing, cell culture and microscopy.
• A dynamic and highly interdisciplinary team including wet-lab scientists, computer scientists, and clinicians.
• Cross-disciplinary collaborations and training opportunities to further develop and grow your scientific interests, including a research stay at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
• Access to a research consortium on emerging viruses (CRC1648) at the UKE in Hamburg
• Opportunity to work in close contact with other basic- and clinical-research groups at the Department of Biomedicine in Basel.
• Support from highly competent, experienced team members and potential to lead projects with a high degree of academic freedom.

Key References

Gao Y*, Cai C*, Adamo S*, Biteus E, Kamal H, Dager L, Miners KL, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Ladell K, Amratia PS, Bentley K, Kollnberger S, Wu J, Mily A, Jones SA, Julin P, Lidman C, Stanton RJ, Goepfert PA, Peluso MJ, Deeks SG, Helen E Davies # 7, Aleman S, Buggert M, Price DA. Identification of soluble biomarkers that associate with distinct manifestations of long COVID. Nature Immunology (2025);26(5):692-705

Adamo S*, Gao Y*, Sekine T, Mily A, Wu, Storgärd E, Westergren V, Filén F, Treutiger CJ, Sandberg JK, Sällberg M, Bergman P, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Ljunggren H, Price DA, Ekström A, Sette A, Grifoni A, Buggert M. Memory profiles distinguish cross-reactive and virus-specific T cell immunity to mpox. Cell Host Microbe (2023); 31(6):928-936.e4. 

Adamo S, Michler J, Zurbuchen Y, Cervia C, Taesclher P, Raeber ME, Baghai Sain S, Nilsson J, Moor AE, Boyman O. Signature of long-lived memory CD8+ T cells in acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature (2022); 602(7895):148-155

Application / Contact

Please send your application via the University of Basel Recruiting-Portal, by submitting the following requested documents: A) a cover letter, B) a complete curriculum vitae, C) at least two references.

For informal inquiries about the open position please contact Dr. Sarah Adamo (sarah.adamo@unibas.ch)