Research Assistant/Lab Technician Position in Blood Cancer Biology and Immunotherapy (70-100%)

Universität Basel; Basel; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Mentorship

Job summary

University of Basel’s Department of Biomedicine invites applications for a research assistant/laboratory technician (70-100%) to support the Blood Cancer Biology and Immunotherapy group. You will assist with lab maintenance, reagent preparation, biobanking of human blood and bone marrow, and provide technical support to PhD students and postdocs.

The position offers hands-on experience in diverse techniques including cell culture, metabolomics and in vivo models, within an international,

Qualifications

• Training as a molecular biology research technician (lab technician) or an M.Sc. in biological sciences or related field.
• Proficient in basic lab techniques (cell culture, sterile techniques, PCR).
• Experience with processing human blood samples, animal work, molecular biology, flow cytometry, or metabolism assays is advantageous.
• Willingness to work with animal models.
• Interest in hematology, tumor immunology, and metabolism.
• Excellent communication skills (English mandatory, German advantageous) and ability to work collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Laboratory maintenance
• Preparation of common lab reagents
• Biobanking of human blood and bone marrow samples including documentation
• Technical support of PhD students and postdocs, including with cell culture and animal experiments

Skills

Molecular biology

Laboratory techniques

PCR

Flow cytometry

Animal handling

Education

M.Sc. in biological sciences

Lab technician training

Tools

CRISPR

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Job description

As a joint venture of the University of Basel and the University Hospitals Basel, the Department of Biomedicine (DBM) brings together basic and clinical scientists to advance the understanding of health and disease. We are home to more than 67 research groups and over 800 employees across six locations in the heart of Basel. Our collaborative and international environment fosters innovation, excellence, and impactful research. The Blood Cancer Biology and Immunotherapy group, led by Prof. Petya Apostolova (www.apostolovalab.com), is looking for a highly motivated research assistant/laboratory technician (70-100%) to support our ongoing work on understanding how metabolites shape anti-leukemia immunity and the leukemic microenvironment.

Start date: 1. February 2027 or upon agreement.

Duration: 1 year, with possibility of extension and long-term perspective.

Join our community and help shape the future of biomedicine.

Your position

The successful candidate will support the research group and individual scientists with lab maintenance,experimental work, and biobanking.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Laboratory maintenance
• Preparation of common lab reagents
• Biobanking of human blood and bone marrow samples including documentation
• Technical support of PhD students and postdocs, including with cell culture and animal experiments

Experimental approaches in our group include in vivo leukemia and allogeneic hematopoietic stem celltransplantation models, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics and lipidomics, functionalgenomics and CRISPR screens, spectral flow cytometry, cell sorting, bulk, single-cell and spatialtranscriptomics, and functional immune and metabolic assays.

The successful candidate will have theopportunity to learn and independently apply several of these techniques.

Research environment

The Apostolova Lab is based at the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, in a highly interactiveenvironment spanning cancer biology, immunology, genomics, metabolism, and translational medicine. Ourgroup combines mechanistic leukemia models with metabolism, immunology, and multi-omics to understandhow leukemia cells adapt to therapeutic pressure and interact with the immune system.

The candidate will receive direct support from the lab manager and other scientists toset their mark in the lab and will be actively involved in the lab projects, providing multiple opportunities fortraining in flow cytometry, molecular biology, metabolism assays, and in vivo experimentation. Mentorship andrespect for human values, including diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, are driving forces of our group.

Your profile

• Training as a molecular biology research technician (lab technician) or M.Sc. (or equivalent) in biological sciences or related fields
• Proficient in basic lab techniques (cell culture, working in sterile conditions, PCR)
• Previous experience with processing human blood samples, animal work, molecular biology, flow cytometry, or metabolism assays will be advantageous
• Willingness to work with animal models
• Interest in hematology, tumor immunology, and metabolism
• Excellent communication skills (English mandatory, German advantageous) and the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team

We offer you

• A stimulating, interdisciplinary research environment focused on the role of metabolism in leukemia and the leukemia-immune crosstalk
• A dynamic and international team with a strong culture of collaboration and mutual support
• Opportunities for development of technical skills
• Close interaction with neighboring labs inhematology, cancer immunology, oncology, and metabolism
• Strong mentorship, including career development support
• Competitive academic environment at the University of Basel