Laboratory Technician - Radiation Oncology Research

To strengthen the laboratory of Professor Fernanda Herrera, we are looking for a laboratory technician
.

About the laboratory :

The Herrera laboratory ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) and the Service of Radiation Oncology are internationally recognized for pioneering work at the interface of immuno‑oncology and innovative radiotherapy approaches, including FLASH radiotherapy. Our teams are actively translating fundamental discoveries in immuno‑radiotherapy and ultra‑high dose‑rate FLASH irradiation into clinical applications.

Research focus :

Building on our recent work published in Cancer Discovery ((2022) 12 (1): 108–133. ), the Herrera group is continuing to investigate the biological mechanisms triggered by low‑dose radiotherapy, including pathways responsible for immune activation as well as mechanisms of resistance to radiation in the tumor microenvironment. These efforts are currently being pursued within the framework of a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF/FNS).

In parallel, a central focus of our research is to unravel the biological mechanisms underlying FLASH radiotherapy—a groundbreaking approach in which ultra‑high radiation doses are delivered within milliseconds, in contrast to the minutes required for conventional radiotherapy. This ultra‑rapid delivery dramatically reduces toxicity to normal tissues while preserving tumor control.

Our research aims to :

• Identify the molecular and immunological pathways responsible for both the FLASH effect and the biological responses induced by low‑dose radiation.
• Understand how FLASH and low‑dose irradiation can synergize with immunotherapies and targeted agents.
• Dissect mechanisms of resistance to radiotherapy and immuno‑radiotherapy.
• Develop innovative translational pipelines leading to first‑in‑human clinical trials.

Our ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for cancer patients by expanding the effectiveness of radiotherapy to currently resistant tumors while minimizing treatment‑related toxicities.

Context :

The Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) is one of Switzerland’s five university hospitals, and a major center of excellence in healthcare, biomedical research, and education.

In close collaboration with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne and EPFL, CHUV plays a leading role in translational medicine.

Driven by a strong ambition to become a European leader in cancer treatment, the Department of Oncology UNIL–CHUV integrates clinical care with cutting‑edge research in a culture of innovation, performance, and patient‑centered excellence.

Its mission is to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies for patients.

Our multidisciplinary teams—comprising physicians, clinicians, biologists, immunologists, bioinformaticians, bioengineers, and dedicated administrative staff—work in a highly collaborative and stimulating environment that supports professional growth, scientific excellence, and impactful research.

Mission and responsibilities :

As part of your mission, you will be required to :

• Carrying out and assisting with scientific inquiries and experiments
  .
• Designing, establishing
  , and carrying out controlled
  experiments
  .
• Collecting
  , analyzing
  , and interpreting
  data
  .
• Demonstrating/teaching procedures
  .
• Collecting
  , preparing
  , and/or testing samples
  .
• Offering technical assistance
  .
• Writing reports, reviews, and summaries
  .
• Assisting laboratory personnel and other users (such as collaborative groups).
• Ordering and managing inventory, stock
  , and resources.

Required profile :

• Experience with in vivo mouse models is essential (RESAL authorization — LTK1 — is desired or possibility of acquiring it).
• Techniques such as immune phenotyping by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry are a strong asset
  .
• Knowledge of molecular biology methods
  , including Western blotting and qPCR, is highly appreciated
  .
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas is an asset
  : CyTOF; scRNAseq; handling large set of bioinformatic data; molecular biology and cell imaging techniques
  .
• Basic knowledge of radiation therapy is desired but not required.
• We…