Research Engineer in Cancer Immunotherapy

Develop next-generation CAR-T cells targeting solid tumor antigens under leading cancer immunology researchers in Marseille.

Best for:Best for biomedical researchers with expertise in cellular immunology, CAR-T technology, and preclinical cancer models seeking a focused one-year project in translational oncology.

INSERM · Marseille, France · R1 · First-stage researcher

More professors at INSERM

CAR-T cell engineeringSolid tumor antigen targetingPreclinical cancer modelsNanobody generationImmunotherapy efficacy assessment

This is a research staff position — not a PhD studentship.

Deadline

Oct 30, 2026

17 days

Funding

Unfunded

1 year

Start date

2027-01-01

Full-time

Location

Marseille

France

Overview

This position offers a one-year contract at the Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM) to advance cancer immunotherapy. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Jean-Paul Borg and Flavio Maina, focusing on designing and testing chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) against overexpressed antigens in solid tumors. The role involves cutting-edge techniques in cellular biology, molecular biology, and preclinical research, with opportunities to contribute to translational science and technology transfer. Ideal for researchers with a strong background in immunology or related biomedical fields seeking hands-on experience in cancer therapy development.

CAR-T cellssolid tumor immunotherapycancer biologypreclinical researchnanobody developmentcellular immunologybiological engineeringINSERM

What you'll do

Select and optimize existing CAR-T cell constructs available in the lab for targeting solid tumor antigens.
Evaluate the efficacy of CAR-T cells using co-culture cytotoxicity assays, cytokine production tests, and in vivo tumor models.
Generate and test nanobodies against specific tumor antigens to develop novel CAR-T constructs.
Perform in vitro and in vivo testing of new CAR-T cells using tumor cell lines and tumoroids.
Collaborate on technology transfer and commercialization activities related to the project.

Requirements

Degree required: PhD or equivalent in Biological Sciences, Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field

Language: English; excellent proficiency required

Instruction: English

Required skills

Proven expertise in cellular and molecular biology techniques
Experience with CAR-T cell engineering or immunotherapy research
Familiarity with preclinical cancer models and in vivo assays
Strong background in protein engineering or nanobody development
Proficiency in cell culture, cytotoxicity assays, and cytokine analysis

Nice to have

Experience with tumor antigen identification and validationKnowledge of translational research and technology transfer processesFamiliarity with advanced imaging techniques for cancer research

Eligibility

No specific nationality restrictions mentioned
No residency or age limitations specified

Funding & terms

Type

Unfunded

Amount

—

Duration

1 year

Programme

INSERM

How to apply

Deadline: 2026-10-30 (Europe/Paris)

Applicants must send their CV and a cover letter explaining their motivation and relevant experience to the supervisor via email. The email should be addressed to jean-paul.borg@inserm.fr with the subject line 'Ingénieur de Recherche en immunothérapie'.

Documents required