The research group “Cellular Virology“ at the Institute of Virology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria, is recruiting a research associate (postdoc) on a 5-year position in virology to pursue an ERC-EDCTP funded project together with partners in Kenya (KEMRI), Tanzania (Ifakara Health Institute), Switzerland (EPFL), Sweden (Karolinska Institute), and Spain (ICSIII). The project aims at investigating in depth the immunological responses to CHIKV vaccination and protection from arbovirus infection in clinical cohorts. Earliest starting date is April 1st, 2026.

Research Topic

The project is part of the Horizon Europe EDCTP action geared towards preventing poverty related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. The Gerold lab focuses on the study of zoonotic enveloped viruses including alphaviruses. At the institute, we use virological, immunological, cell biological, biochemical, and biophysical techniques to characterize determinants of virus infection and protection thereof. The specific project is embedded in an international and interdisciplinary consortium of clinicians, virologists, immunologists and biophysicists with the aim of characterizing CHIKV vaccine responses in African vaccine cohorts. We focus on vulnerable populations, i.e. HIV positive individuals. The identified immunological mechanisms and profiles will allow an estimation of the efficacy of CHIKV vaccines, which are currently licensed in the Americas and Europe, in the African population.

Your Role

You will be responsible for carrying out research in the Gerold laboratory in close collaboration with local and international experts. Specifically, you will employ PBMC single cell RNA-sequencing, monoclonal antibody cloning, purification and characterization as well as T cell assays. You will analyze the role of the identified antibodies in protection from alphavirus infection using virological assays and advanced immunological techniques. Ultimately, the data will be used to advice stakeholders on the usage of CHIKV vaccine in the general population and vulnerable groups in outbreak settings. You will have the opportunity to perform lab rotations in the partnering institutions across Africa and the EU.

Responsibilities

• Generate and employ a set of reporter and non-reporter alphaviruses at BSL2 and BSL3 level.
• Develop and conduct assays to characterize cross-protective T cell responses for CHIKV vaccinee cohorts.
• Perform single cell RNA-sequencing of B cells and T cells to characterize CHIKV vaccine responses.
• Clone, express and characterize antibodies of interest.
• Employ immunological assays to delineate antibody functions.
• Participate and contribute to scientific group meetings.
• Coordinate work with collaboration partners in Africa and Europe.
• Contribute as appropriate to the publication of research findings.
• Participate in training and supervision of visiting scientists and research students from Africa.
• Comply with the University’s Equal Opportunities and Data Protection policies.

Selection Criteria

Essential

• PhD in infection biology or immunology
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Significant experience in scRNA-seq, immunological and/or virological methods.
• Interest in arboviruses.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.
• Intercultural skills.
• Ability to deliver results to required standard and schedule and to organize and prioritize own work with minimal supervision

Desirable

• Experience in BSL3 environments.
• Previous practical experience with scRNA-seq data acquisition and analysis.
• Previous practical experience in antibody cloning, expression and characterization.
• Experience in data processing and R / Python programming.
• Experience in molecular cloning and ectopic protein expression.

Research Environment

We are a diverse and international team based at the Institute of Virology Innsbruck (IVI). Virological and immunological expertise as well as latest instruments to study virus infection in real time are available on site. Sequencing infrastructure as well as high end flow cytometers are available on site. Within the local networks, high resolution imaging, and high-resolution mass spectrometers are accessible. We offer a stimulating and collaborative research environment, in which your scientific career development is fostered.

Position Summary

Full-time 4.5 years with full salary up to 40 h per week. A salary based on group B1/03 (of the collective contract (`Universitätskollektivvertrag´) for Austrian university employees for 100% / 40h per week.