Postdoctoral position: Pathogen sensing, innate immunity and autoimmunity

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

unil.ch/work

Presentation

A Postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Manuele Rebsamen at the Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The Rebsamen lab investigates the signaling pathways and metabolic processes that allow immune cells to detect and respond to invading pathogens, and their implication in autoimmune diseases. We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate to investigate the mechanisms and regulatory processes controlling innate immune responses, and their role in antimicrobial responses and autoimmunity.

Additional information: www.rebsamenlab.org

Selected publications (# corresponding authors):

1. Heinz, …, Rebsamen# & Superti-Furga#. TASL is the SLC15A4-associated adaptor for IRF5 activation by TLR7-9. Nature. 2020;
2. Bernaleau, …, Rebsamen. CCDC134 controls TLR biogenesis through the ER-chaperone Gp96. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2025
3. Drobek, ..., Rebsamen. TLR7-9 adaptors TASL and TASL2 mediate IRF5-dependent antiviral responses and autoimmunity. Nature Communications, 2025
4. Drobek, ..., Rebsamen. The SLC15A4-TASL complex is essential for lupus development in mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2026 (accepted)

Job information

Expected start date in position: From January 1st, 2027 or to be agreed.

Contract duration: 1 year, with the possibility of renewal for a maximum total of 5 years

Employment rate: 100%

Place of work: Dpt. of Immunobiology, UNIL, Ch. des Boveresses 155,1066 Epalinges, Switzerland

Your responsibilities

In your activities, you will have to:

• Lead a research project
• Contribute to collaborative team projects
• Contribute to the supervision of students

Your qualifications

In order to expand our team, we are looking for candidates with the following skills: 

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, e.g. immunology or molecular biology
• Enthusiasm for science, self-motivation and a strong interest in immunology
• Motivation to collaborate and work in a team
• At least one 1st author research publication
• Eligibility for postdoctoral fellowships (e.g. EMBO or similar)
• Strong spoken and written competency in English (French is not necessary)

What the position offers you

We offer a competitive, funded research project and a nice working place in a multicultural and dynamic academic environment. The working language is English. The laboratory is located at the Epalinges campus, a creative and inspiring environment with strengths in immunology, infectious diseases and cancer, which hosts the Dpt. of Immunobiology as well as laboratories from the University Hospital (CHUV) and the Ludwig Cancer Research Institute. The campus offers multiple state-of-the-art research facilities.