Inducing CD8+T cell Tissue Resident Phenotypes

The Mucosal Immunology against Infection (MIM), Research Group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, is seeking an outstanding postdoctoral researcher interested in developing competitive applications for the next Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF).

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) are part of the Horizon Europe programme and support postdoctoral researchers in developing an original research and innovation project through international mobility.

The programme aims to strengthen researchers’ careers through excellent science, international collaboration and interdisciplinary experience, while fostering integration in both academic and non-academic environments. The MSCA-PF call is highly competitive and represents an excellent opportunity to attract international talent and support researchers in consolidating their scientific careers through an ambitious mobility-based fellowship.

The 2026 call closes on 09/09/2026 (17:00 Brussels time). For candidates applying to a European Postdoctoral Fellowship, the fellowship duration is from 12 to 24 months.

Full eligibility details: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

Background

CD8⁺ resident memory T cells (CD8+TRM) permanently reside within tissues, where they continuously survey the local microenvironment and provide rapid protection against invading pathogens and malignant cells. Beyond their effector functions, CD8+TRM play key roles in maintaining tissue immune homeostasis. The differentiation of memory precursors into CD8+TRM is shaped by instructive cues derived from both secondary lymphoid organs and peripheral tissue niches. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms governing CD8+TRM development, establishment, and regulation in mucosal tissues will be critical to harnessing these cells for the elimination of persistent antigens and for enhancing vaccine-induced immune responses.

Objective

The primary objective of this proposal is to identify mechanisms that are key for ultimately inducing a CD8+TRM response to migrate and establish for long-term protection in multiple peripheral tissues and mucosa. Understanding how to best engage innate immunity at mucosal sites and how induce long-term CD8+TRM in these sites will be key for adjuvant and vaccine formulation or to potentiate these responses to eliminate persistent antigens located in these tissues.

Our Group

The Mucosal Immunology against Infection (MIM), is led by Dr. Meritxell Genescà, a senior researcher at the Infectious Disease dept. of the Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR). The main lines of research are:

• Tissue HIV reservoir and new elimination strategies

• STI and co-infections

• Adjuvants and biomarkers of mucosal immunity

• Tissue explant models to study host-pathogen interactions and immunity.

Main responsibilities and duties:

Education and qualifications:

Required:

• Applicants must hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended their thesis before the call deadline (09/09/2026)

• Applicants must comply with the mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work/studies) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months prior to the call deadline.

• Solid academic training in cellular and molecular immunology

• Fluency in English (spoken and written)

Desirable:

• PhD with a strong focus on tissue immunity, mucosal immunology, host-pathogen interactions, or infectious diseases

• Prior exposure to translational or clinically oriented research environments

• Competitive publication record appropriate to career stage

Experience and knowledge:

Required:

• Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience by the call deadline. This means candidates are generally eligible if they obtained their PhD on or after 10/09/2018 (possible extensions may apply, e.g. parental leave or long-term illness).

• Hands‑on experience with immunological techniques (e.g. flow cytometry, multiparametric phenotyping, cell culture, functional immune assays)

• Experience working with primary human samples and/or tissue material

• Strong experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation skills

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative research environment

• Motivation to conduct rigorous, hypothesis‑driven research at the interface of basic and translational science

• Good analytical, writing and communicating skills.

Desirable:

• Experience collaborating with clinicians or working within multidisciplinary consortia

• Interest in mentoring students and contributing to lab and institutional scientific activities

• Knowledge of infectious diseases, viral immunology, or co‑infection biology

• Experience in data analyses, bioinformatics and statistics

Deadline to apply: 31-07-2026

VHIR embraces Equality and Diversity. As reflected in our values we work toward ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, training, and management for all staff within the organisation, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, functional diversity or ethnicity.

Information on Personal Data Protection:
Data Controller: Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca -VHIR-. Purpose: Personnel selection. Legal Basis: Your consent. Data retention period: One year. If you are selected, as long as the employment relationship is in force and legal responsibilities may arise. Data sharing: Does not occur, except for communications necessary to fulfill the purpose and those required by law to public and private bodies. Rights: You can access, rectify, delete, object to, and limit the processing of data, as well as request data portability where applicable, by contacting lopd@vhir.org. DPO: dpd@ticsalutsocial.cat. More information can be found here.
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