PhD scholarship in Identification and Charecterization of Cancer-Specific T-Cell Antigens – DTU Health Tech

Are you passionate about advancing cancer research and developing innovative immunotherapeutic strategies? This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to explore the role of HERV-derived antigens in shaping T-cell responses in cancer. By investigating how HERVs influence T-cell activation, immune escape mechanisms, and tumor immunogenicity, you could contribute to identifying novel targets for T-cell-based therapies, including personalized cancer vaccines, TCR-engineered T cells, and checkpoint blockade combinations.

If you are excited about making a significant impact in the field of cancer immunotherapy, why not apply for this position and be part of groundbreaking research?

By joining this research, you will:

• Gain expertise in tumor immunology, T-cell biology, and immunotherapy development.
• Acquire firsthand experience with state-of-the-art immunological, molecular, and computational techniques.
• Work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment with leading experts in cancer immunotherapy, virology, and bioinformatics
• Contribute to a rapidly evolving field with high translational potential for novel cancer treatments.

The project will involve cutting-edge techniques, including:

• Antigen-specific T-cell analysis using state-of-the-art T-cell detection technologies
• High-dimensional flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize HERV-reactive T-cell populations.
• TCR repertoire analysis to study the diversity and specificity of anti-HERV T-cell responses.
• In vitro co-culture systems and tumor organoids to evaluate T-cell cytotoxicity against HERV-expressing cancer cells.

Responsibilities and qualifications
T cells play a crucial role in immune surveillance and cancer immunotherapy, recognizing and eliminating malignant cells through tumor-specific antigens. While conventional tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and neoantigens have been extensively studied, emerging evidence suggests that HERVs—remnants of ancient viral infections embedded in the human genome—can also contribute to cancer immunity. These retroviral sequences, typically silenced in normal tissues, can become aberrantly expressed in tumors, potentially serving as novel targets for T-cell-mediated immune responses.

This project offers an exciting opportunity to bridge fundamental immunology with translational oncology, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic interventions leveraging HERV-derived T-cell responses.

Key Responsibilities

• Characterize the T-cell responses against HERV-derived peptides using cutting-edge immunological techniques.
• Apply single-cell sequencing, flow cytometry, and TCR repertoire analysis to study HERV-reactive T cells in tumor samples.
• Evaluate the potential of HERV antigens as novel targets for immunotherapy.
• Work with patient-derived samples, and in vitro T-cell assays.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including oncologists, bioinformaticians, and molecular biologists.
• Publish findings in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.

Required Qualifications

• Strong background in T-cell biology, and tumor immunology.
• Hands-on experience with flow cytometry, cytokine assays, and in vitro T-cell assays.
• Hands-on experience with single-cell assay pipeline and data processing
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team-oriented environment

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The candidates will be assessed by Associate Professor Sunil Kumar Saini.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Sunil Kumar Saini, [email protected] .

You can read more about the research group here: T-Cell Antigens and Immunogenicity . 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 8 April 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Health Tech
With a vision to improve health and quality of life through technology, DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation based on technical and natural science. We educate tomorrow’s health tech engineers and create the foundation for new and innovative services and technologies for the globally expanding healthcare sector with its demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech’s expertise can be described through five overall research areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Health, Personalised Therapy, Precision Diagnostics, and Sensory and Neural Technology. Our technologies and solutions are developed with the aim of benefiting people and creating value for society. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD Students, and a technical/administrative support staff of about 100 persons of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.