PhD / MD PhD position in Human Skin Immunology

PhD Position in Inflammatory Skin Disease Research

The laboratory of Prof. Christoph Schlapbach at the Department of Dermatology, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, is focused on understanding how human T helper cells influence inflammatory skin diseases. Our work explores therapeutic targets through a combination of human immunology, tissue models, multi-omics, and translational research. In psoriasis, tissue-resident memory TH17 cells remain active in resolved skin, contributing to relapse. We've recently demonstrated that activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) metabolically reprograms human memory T cells while selectively restraining TH17 responses. This PhD project aims to elucidate how metabolic pathways regulate the persistence and pathogenicity of skin-resident memory T cells and to investigate metabolic reprogramming as a potential pathway for durable disease control.

What You Can Expect

This ambitious project integrates human immunology, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and advanced ex vivo human skin models. Key experimental techniques 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 culture models
• Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry
• Bioinformatic analysis of transcriptomic datasets

The PhD candidate will collaborate closely with senior scientists and clinicians within an interdisciplinary and highly collaborative environment. This position also provides opportunities to supervise Master's students and present research findings at both 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)
• A strong dedication to science and academia
• Theoretical & practical skills in immunology, molecular, & cellular biology
• Academic excellence, a professional work attitude, and a proactive 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)

To apply, please use the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Questions about the Job?

For further information, please contact:

Nicole Bertschi
Postdoctoral Research Scientist