Department for BioMedical Research at the University of Bern and the University Clinic of Rheumatology and Immunology at Inselspital, Bern Start of employment: April 1, 2026 Duration of employment: 3 years Our group is affiliated with the Department for BioMedical Research at the University of Bern and the University Clinic of Rheumatology and Immunology at Inselspital, Bern. Our research focuses on the innovative design and development of therapeutic cancer vaccines based on virus-like nanoparticles for the effective treatment of solid tumors in mouse models to provide proof-of-concept. Project description Solid cancers such as breast cancer, melanoma, and head and neck cancer remain major global health challenges due to their high incidence, aggressive progression, and limited treatment options. These tumors frequently metastasize or develop resistance to conventional therapies, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality and highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Our group develops therapeutic cancer vaccines based on virus-like particles (VLPs), which are highly immunogenic, non-infectious structures that effectively activate immune cells to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. These vaccines can be tailored as personalized formulations targeting patient-specific mutations or designed as universal vaccines applicable across tumor types. VLP-based vaccination has the potential to induce strong and durable anti-tumor immunity, offering a promising strategy within cancer immunotherapy [5, 6]. The aim of this project is to develop novel therapeutic VLP-based cancer vaccines using AI-driven design approaches. The work will rely on both in vivo and in vitro experimentation, with a strong focus on evaluating immune responses, particularly B-cell activation and complement involvement, in transgenic mouse models. Essential technical skills for this project include VLP-based vaccine design, production and purification via ultracentrifu...