PhD or MD PhD position in human skin immunology

Berne, 100 %

*The laboratory of Prof. Christoph Schlapbach (Department of Dermatology, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern) studies how human T helper cells drive inflammatory skin disease and how these mechanisms can be targeted therapeutically, combining human immunology, tissue models, multi-omics, and translational research.

In psoriasis, tissue-resident memory TH17 cells persist in resolved skin and drive relapse. We recently showed that activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) metabolically reprograms human memory T cells and selectively restrains TH17 responses. This PhD project will define how metabolic pathways regulate the persistence and pathogenicity of skin-resident memory T cells and explore metabolic reprogramming as a route to durable disease control.

The position is funded by Inselspital Bern and requires admission to the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern.*

What you can expect ##

The project combines human immunology, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and advanced ex vivo human skin models. State-of-the art experimental approaches include:

• Isolation and functional characterization of human memory T-cell subsets
• Multi-parameter flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting
• CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and RNA interference
• Metabolic phenotyping using seahorse extracellular flux analysis
• Bulk, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
• Human skin explant skin culture models
• Immunofluorescence and Immunohistochemistry
• Bioinformatic analysis of transcriptomic datasets

The PhD candidate will work in close collaboration with and be supported by senior scientists and clinicians in an interdisciplinary and highly collaborative environment. The position also offers opportunities to supervise Master's students and present research at national and international conferences.

Your Profile ##

• A degree in natural sciences (MSc) acceptable for matriculation at a Swiss University
• Fluency in English (oral and written)
• Dedication to science and academia
• Theoretical & practical skills in immunology, molecular, & cellular biology
• Academic excellence, a professional work attitude, and a proactive and self-driven work ethic
• Enthusiastic and highly motivated 

What we offer ##

• An ambitious, high-impact research project addressing fundamental questions in human skin immunology
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities
• Close collaboration with basic science and clinical researchers
• Opportunities to attend international conferences and build an academic network
• Employment according to the regulations of the University of Bern and enrollment in the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

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Location Inselspital, Universitätsspital

Organisation

Medical division internal medicine

Area Department of Dermatology

Workload

100 %

Start

Starting 1 November 2026 or by mutual agreement

Reference

19590

Type of Contract

Temporary , Fixed-term for 4 years

Work Location

Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern

Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010 Bern

Schweiz