Postdoctoral Researcher – Next-Generation CAR Immune Cell Therapies Against Malignant Brain Tumors

Department for Neurology

The Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology at the University of Zurich is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join an ERC-funded project developing next-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immune cell therapies against malignant brain tumors.

What we Offer:

• A fully funded postdoctoral position within a prestigious ERC-funded project

• Access to cutting-edge engineering, screening, and profiling platforms

• An interdisciplinary and collaborative environment at the forefront of cancer, immunology, and neuroscience

• Opportunities to engage with translational and clinical research

• Mentorship from leaders in the field and full support for a successful career in academia or in the entrepreneurial space

Background:

Malignant primary brain tumors remain among the most challenging tumor types to treat. Cancer immunotherapies hold revolutionary potential, and our group has pioneered multiple immunotherapeutic approaches against brain cancer, including tumor-targeted cytokine therapies (Weiss et al., Science Translational Medicine 2020; Look et al., Science Translational Medicine 2023) and engineered immune cell therapies (Sun et al., Science Translational Medicine 2025), leveraging sophisticated in vitro and in vivo models and cutting-edge technologies. Our team also has a strong track record of translating preclinical innovation into patient care.

Project Description:

In this ERC-funded project, the successful candidate will develop the next generation of immune cell therapies. Building on our established ex vivo and in vivo engineering platforms, sophisticated singlecell and spatial technologies, disease models, and patient samples, the project aims to further develop multifunctional, multi-immune-cell strategies for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

Your responsibilities

Specific project goals:

• Generate CAR immune cell communities, comprising mixtures of engineered T cells, NK cells, monocytes, and additional cell types, using sophisticated in vitro and in vivo engineering platforms.

• Identify co-factors that boost CAR immune cell function using cutting-edge screening platforms.

• Investigate anti-tumor activity and immune-cancer-cell environmental crosstalk in vitro and in vivo using sophisticated disease models (organoids, slice cultures, patient-derived samples, mouse models) and modern technologies including flow cytometry, multiplexed imaging, spatial transcriptomics/proteomics and single-cell profiling.

• Analyze patient samples from an accompanying clinical trial evaluating CAR immune cell communities.

Your profile

• Intellectual curiosity, creativity and a proactive approach to problem-solving

• Motivation to contribute to a project with direct patient impact

• PhD in immunology, computational immunology, cell/molecular/cancer biology, bioengineering, biomedical sciences, or a related field

• Experience with immune cell engineering, cellular immunotherapy, and/or advanced in vitro/in vivo disease models is highly desirable

• Familiarity with single-cell and/or spatial technologies is a plus

• Strong publication record demonstrating scientific productivity

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to thrive in an interdisciplinary team

Location

Zurich

Start of employment

September 1, 2026, or by arrangement

Further information

Tobias Weiss

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. sc. nat.

tobias.weiss@usz.ch

Information on your application

Please send a single PDF containing the following documents:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience

• Detailed CV

• Publication list

• A brief research statement about the future research that you envision

• Contact details of 2–3 professional references