PhD for Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy

About Our Campus: 

The Ein Kerem campus is a hub for cutting-edge medical education and research in Jerusalem. Located next to Hadassah Hospital - a world-renowned medical center - it brings together top programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Public Health, and plays a central role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers.

About Our Department: The Raphael Lab is an integral part of the Institute for Drug Research at the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine. 

The School of Pharmacy conducts research across four complementary divisions: Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Clinical Pharmacy. Research activity spans key areas of pharmaceutical science, including drug delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, nanomedicine, targeted drug delivery, personalized medicine, gene therapy, and medicinal chemistry, as well as clinically oriented research within pharmacy practice. Within the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Pharmacy, the Institute for Drug Research (IDR), the only institute of its kind in Israel, advances drug research and development across the full pipeline, from computerized drug design and synthesis of novel molecules to biological/therapeutic evaluation and sophisticated targeted delivery systems. Together, these research divisions create an integrated environment that supports interdisciplinary investigation across the chemical, biological, and clinical aspects of drug development and therapeutic optimization.

About Our Research: Our work focuses on the critical interactions between the immune system and brain tumors to develop innovative immunotherapies. Our research explores how the central nervous system and the tumor microenvironment regulates the immune system, aiming to uncover the drivers of immune evasion and tumor growth. By delineating how tumor-infiltrating immune cells, primarily T cells, and central nervous system resident populations like microglia and astrocytes operate in contexts of brain tumors, we aim to design targeted, next-generation therapeutic strategies. 

We foster a collegial environment that balances rigorous guided research with a highly collaborative spirit. 

Funding: 2200-3000 in USD (monthly).

Your Profile:

We are seeking a driven PhD student who is eager to take ownership of a specific research project, master advanced immunological techniques, and thrive within a supportive team setting dedicated to translating benchtop discoveries into impactful clinical applications for adults and children with brain tumors.

To excel in this role, we seek candidates with:

• Degree in life science, biology, immunology, or a related field  with a grade average above 85 (required).
• Prior research experience in a molecular biology lab setting is preferred.
• Experience in immunology, T cell biology, brain tumors or cancer, flow cytometry, cell culture, human specimen handling, or animal models of cancer is a major advantage.
• Knowledge of sequencing technologies (e.g., RNA-seq), computational biology or programming (R/Python) is also a major plus.
• Motivation to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international research environment.
• Excellent command of English. 

Embracing Diversity: At Hebrew University we believe that diversity inspires creativity, fosters curiosity, and enriches our ecosystem through academic collaboration and cultural exchange. We consider every member of our community an integral part, irrespective of their religion, gender, or ethnic origin.

The University is home to nearly 25,000 students across our 6 campuses, including ~2,500 international students per year representing 90+ countries. You’ll enjoy the opportunity to engage with your peers here on equal ground, in an environment that promotes equity and inclusion, and celebrates the contribution of its talented members.

Application:  Please submit your application as three separate PDFs, each containing the following: 

• Letter of motivation
• CV (including a list of publications)
• Copy of your original academic degree(s) and transcripts

Application Deadline: October 1st, 2026

About Hebrew University: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) is one of the world's leading research institutions, consistently ranked as a global top 100 university. Established by luminaries such as Albert Einstein, the University is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship, and innovation across various domains, including brain sciences, medicine, biomedicine, life sciences, mathematics, agriculture, and more. Our 6 campuses house 100+ research centers, with ~4,000 research projects underway year-round. 

About Jerusalem: Hebrew University is an integral part of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and one of the most fascinating, diverse cities on earth. Thousands of students from across the globe live in Jerusalem, immersing themselves in its vibrant cultural and culinary scenes, while marveling at the juxtaposition of its 3,000-year-old history and cutting-edge modernity. Students make the most of their spare time by enjoying Jerusalem’s myriad attractions, from restaurants, cafes and pubs, to dance clubs, museums, theaters, and year-round festivals.