INsTRuCT is an Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme.
The INsTRuCT Consortium is a research network of leading European scientists from academia and industry focused on fundamental research and clinical translation of myeloid regulatory cell (MRC)-based immunotherapies. A total of 15 doctoral research projects (PhD projects) for Early Stage Researchers (ESR) are offered across 13 institutes in Europe. Research topics range from fundamental to translational science, all at the forefront in the field of MRC-based immunotherapies. Successful applicants will also receive expert training in basic immunological research, preclinical pharmacological development, manufacturing processes, clinical trial design, healthcare economics, ethics and marketing. The interaction of biologists, computational scientists, physicians and engineers is central to INsTRuCT and will challenge ESR to explore complex issues in bench-to-bedside research from different perspectives. Graduates of INsTRuCT will be well-prepared to enter the workplace with an innovative and beyond state-of-the-art view on fundamental and translational science of cell-based therapies that will accelerate the future of the field.

Participating in INsTRuCT offers early stage researchers many unique opportunities, including:

• A project as Marie Skłodowska Curie trainee in one of the participating institutions with the intention of receiving a doctoral degree (PhD).

• State-of-the art, exciting research in an international consortium with highly integrated research projects.

• Expert training in preclinical and clinical development of cell-based medicinal products.

• At least two months of research training in the lab of another consortium member, mostly in a different EU country than the country where most of the project will take place.

• Training in both academic and commercial research environments.

• Salary according to EU guidelines for Marie Skłodowska Curie trainees, including mobility payments and family allowances where applicable.

Eligible candidates must:

• hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in a field of science relevant to their chosen project (see below)

• demonstrate a history of academic excellence

• demonstrate an affinity for Basic Immunology, Computational Biology, bio(medical/process)engineering or translational research

• speak and write fluently in English

• have less than 4 years’ previous research experience and not hold a doctoral (PhD) title

• have not been resident in the country where the host institution is located for more than 12 months in the 3 years before recruitment

• be available for a personal interview at the INsTRuCT recruitment meeting in Barcelona, 23^rd - 25^th March 2020

• be available to start their project no later than 1^st September, 2020

Application Process

INsTRuCT will select ESR through a 2-step recruitment process. Candidates should submit their application for their top two or three preferred research projects. Applications (in English) should include a CV, a Letter of Motivation and a Letter of Recommendation from two appropriate referees. The closing date for applications is 31^st January, 2020. Application documents should be sent by email to Mrs. Christine Bayer, Project Administrator (christine.bayer@ukr.de) and the relevant project supervisors by email (see individual project descriptions). Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves thoroughly with projects for which they apply and be ready to answer questions on their chosen topics. After reviewing all project applications, supervisors of individual projects will contact selected applicants to organise an initial screening interview by telephone or videoconferencing. The most promising candidates will then be invited to a personal interview in a recruitment meeting of the whole consortium in Barcelona on 23^rd - 25^th March, 2020. Approximately half of those interviewed in the second round will be offered a position.

Research projects offered by INsTRuCT
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ESR	Project Title	Subject Area	Primary Supervisor	Institution	EU State
1	Metabolic Programming of Human Monocyte Differentiation closed	Molecular Immunology	ZASLONA, Z.	Trinity College Dublin	IE
2	Mitochondrial and metabolic functions of tolerogenic myeloid cells closed	Molecular Immunology	SAWITZKI, B.	Berlin Charité	DE
3	Engineered Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells for Ag-Specific Immunotherapy closed	Molecular Immunology	GREGORI, S.	Ospedale San Raffaele	IT
4	Trained Immunity in Regulatory Macrophages closed	Molecular Immunology	OCHANDO, J.	University of Madrid	ES
5	A data science approach to characterising myeloid regulatory cell therapies closed	Computational Biology	LORD, P. - HILKENS, C.	Newcastle University	GB
6	Investigating molecular mechanisms of human autologous tolerogenic DC closed	Cellular Biology	MOREAU, A.	University of Nantes	FR
7	Computational characterisation, classification and deconvolution of myeloid regulatory cells closed	Computational Biology	REHLI, M. - SPANG, R.	University Hospital Regensburg	DE
8	Development of Pharmaceutical Release Processes for DC-based Therapy closed	GMP Manufacturing	GERMERAAD, W.	Cimaas BV	NL
9	Personalized MRC-based therapy: Innovative strategies to improve efficacy closed	Computational Biology	SANCHEZ FUEYO, A.	King's College London	GB
10	Development and validation of antigen-specific assays for T and B cell responses closed	Cellular Immunology	BRINKE, A. - van HAM, M.	Sanquin Blood Supply and University of Amsterdam	NL
11	Development of an affordable & process for tolDC manufacturing closed	GMP Manufacturing	COOLS, N.	University of Antwerp	BE
12	Classification of Human Myeloid Regulatory Cell Networks by Machine Learning https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/636008 OPEN	Computational Biology	KOLLET, J.	Miltenyi Biotec BV & Co. KG	DE
13	Genes & pathways associated with the tolerogenic capacity of tolDC-VitD3 closed	Molecular Immunology	MARTINEZ, E.	Institute of the Germans Trias i Pujol Foundation	ES
14	Human Mreg-mediated conversion of naïve CD4+ T cells to iTreg closed	Cellular Immunology	HUTCHINSON, J.	University Hospital Regensburg	DE
15	Route of delivery of tolerogenic dendritic cells closed	Clinical Immunology	HILKENS, C.	Newcastle University	GB

Further Information

Interested candidates are advised to visit the INsTRuCT Consortium website for further information about projects. Questions about recruitment, training opportunities and the scientific activities of the INsTRuCT Consortium should be directed to Dr. James Hutchinson, Project Coordinator. INsTRuCT is committed to a fair, open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers. To comply with Research Executive Agency policy, the INsTRuCT Consortium will retain copies of all documents submitted by all applicants at least until completion of the Project. In addition, INsTRuCT will retain copies of all evaluations made by project supervisors at every stage of the recruitment process. By submitting their application to INsTRuCT, candidates agree to their personal data being kept on record by University Hospital Regensburg and communicated to EU officials if demanded. The Data Protection Officer (DPO) at University Hospital Regensburg is Dr. Wolfgang Börner, who can be contacted by telephone on +49- (0)941 944 4420 or by sending an email to dsb@ukr.de.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860003

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