Master thesis + follow-up Technician position
9 months + 9 months
Protein engineering of Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs)

We are looking for a highly motivated applicant to join our Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells (https://christian-doppler.ccri.at) – an interdisciplinary collaboration project between Dr. Michael Traxlmayr at BOKU (Institute of Biochemistry) and Dr. Manfred Lehner at St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung. Within this CD Lab, we are developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapy by engineering safer and more efficient CAR T cells.

The aim of this master thesis is to optimize an ON-switch for CAR T cells, that we have developed previously (Zajc et al., PNAS, 2020). The master thesis will be conducted for 9 months followed by a 9 month-contract as a technician (30 h/week).

Methods will include but are not limited to:

- Directed evolution using yeast display
- Protein expression and purification
- Protein characterization (SEC-MALS, DSC, CD)
- Flow cytometry/FACS
- Analysis of interactions between protein
and small compound/protein (SPR, ITC)
- Cell culture with primary human T cells and cell lines

We are looking for an applicant with the following profile:

- Bachelor´s degree in biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry or related fields
- Excellent written and oral skills in English (the working language in the CD lab is English)
- highly motivated and well organized
- lab experience is required, but previous knowledge of the methods is not essential
- Availability for both the master thesis and the technician position (18 months in total)

The expected starting date is the 1st of February, 2022.

We offer:

- A very attractive combination of master thesis position and follow-up employment
- A salary for both positions (minor employment for the duration of the master thesis and employment based on 30 h/week for the technician employment)
- A very positive working atmosphere
- Training for a broad spectrum of methods
- An interdisciplinary project with regular lab meetings and discussions

If you are interested, please send your application to:
Charlotte Zajc
charlotte.zajc@boku.ac.at