Postdoctoral position in the development of neurovascular models to investigate B-cell pathobiology in Multiple Sclerosis

**Postdoctoral position in the development of neurovascular models to investigate B-cell pathobiology in Multiple Sclerosis** ============================================================================================================================= #### **100%, Basel, fixed-term** We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic engineering Postdoc, who will want to work in an international environment in Basel, Switzerland. For a collaborative project between the *Bio Engineering Laboratory* (Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering of ETH Zurich in Basel) and *Novartis Biomedical Research*, Basel, Switzerland, we are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Researcher. The candidate will have a unique opportunity to collaborate across scientific and organizational boundaries with a focus on developing advanced human in vitro models that have the potential to provide new insights into neuroinflammatory disease mechanisms and innovative therapeutic approaches for patients. **Job description** ------------------- * In this collaborative effort, the Postdoc will develop and apply human in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to investigate mechanisms driving disease progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) * Increasing evidence suggests that B cells can become compartmentalized within the central nervous system (CNS), where they contribute to chronic neuroinflammation and remain incompletely accessible to current therapies * Building on an established multicellular, flow-enabled human BBB platform, the successful candidate will incorporate additional neuroimmune components, including microglia and human B cells, to establish a disease-relevant neuroimmune model of progressive MS * This model will be used to investigate mechanisms regulating B-cell trafficking, CNS compartmentalization, persistence, and therapeutic depletion, and to evaluate next-generation brain-penetrant B-cell-depleting therapies **Profile** ----------- * The successful candidate should have a background in immunology, neuroimmunology, neuroscience, bioengineering, biotechnology, or related disciplines * Experience with advanced in vitro models, blood-brain barrier biology, complex cell culture systems, neuroinflammation, or immune cell biology is highly desirable * Experience working with human immune cells, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology techniques or transcriptomics will be considered advantageous * Good communication skills and a proactive work attitude are required for working in the interdisciplinary field of neuroimmunology and drug development * The Postdoc must be able to communicate fluently in English (oral and written) and be willing to work in a highly interactive and collaborative international environment * The researcher will work at the interface of academic and industrial research with access to resources and expertise from both institutions * Academic excellence, a professional work attitude,