About this position
A 3-year doctoral contract is available at the Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN – Inserm / CNRS / Université Côte d’Azur), within the University Hospital Institute RespirERA (IHU RespirERA), supported by the France 2030 programme.
Supervisor: Dr Patrick Brest
Location: Nice, France
Project description
Therapeutic vaccination against established cancers remains limited by immune tolerance to self antigens. Complexes associating a protein antigen with an RNA component can engage innate nucleic acid sensing pathways and may help overcome this tolerance, but the determinants of their immunogenicity are still poorly defined.
This project aims to:
Characterise the cellular and molecular determinants of immunogenicity for antigen–RNA complexes, including the innate sensors engaged, the responsive cell types and the contribution of the RNA component.
Determine how these determinants shape antigen presentation and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical tumour models, and assess their potential as a broader vaccine platform.
Approaches
Reporter cell lines and primary immune cells, imaging and flow cytometry, in vitro RNA and protein biochemistry, preclinical tumour models and immune monitoring.
Candidate profile
Master’s degree (M2 or equivalent) in life sciences, including cell or molecular biology, immunology or cancer biology, with hands-on laboratory experience.
Skills in cell culture, RT-qPCR and protein analysis are an asset.
Experience in immunology, RNA biology, imaging, flow cytometry or RNA and protein biochemistry will be highly valued.
Rigour, autonomy, critical thinking and team spirit.
Good command of English.
Funding and employment conditions
A 3-year, full-time doctoral contract funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) under France 2030 – IHU RespirERA (ANR-23-IHU-0007).
Expected start date: January 2027
Application deadline: 15 November 2026
How to apply
Please send a CV, a cover letter, M1/M2 academic transcripts, and the contact details of two referees to
patrick.brest@univ-cotedazur.fr
.
Please use the following email subject line: “PhD application – Position – Antigen–RNA complexes and cancer vaccination”.
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