A 4-year Group leaders’ position is open at the Pasteur Fiocruz Center on Immunology and Immunotherapy on the following topic:
Immunology and immunotherapy for combating emerging infectious diseases
Modulation of the immune system through immunotherapies has revolutionized the field of immunology in the recent years. Targeting an infectious agent, damaged cells and tissues, or regulating the immune microenvironment to promote a proper immune response appears to be the most efficient therapeutic option to fight a wide range of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Yet, access to immunotherapeutic agents is not equitable. Initiatives for developing innovative therapies and diagnostics and for making these powerful tools more accessible and affordable are a global priority.
Indicative potential topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Immunological mechanisms in health and disease;
- Immunotherapeutic interventions to fight infectious diseases;
- Immunotherapies as immunoregulatory agents;
- Immune modulation and metabolism;
- Immunotherapy for pathogens elimination;
- Immunotherapy as a precision medicine tool;
- Designing and development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
The International Call 2025 for application for a 4-year Research Group will support one (1) new G4 award holder with a group-leader career development opportunity of up to 400,000€. The successful applicant should propose an innovative research project on one of the above topics.
Context of the host institution
The Institut Pasteur and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) have been solid partners since the very beginning of their existence in the 19th century. Since then, the institutions have been jointly developing numerous and impactful scientific and institutional collaborations. Fiocruz is a member of the Pasteur Network since 2009 and, more recently, this strategic partnership was strengthened through the creation of a bilateral research structure, the Pasteur Fiocruz Center on Immunology and Immunotherapy (Pasteur Fiocruz Center), inaugurated in May 2024 and located in the campus of Fiocruz Ceará (Rua São José, S/N - Precabura, Eusébio - CE, 61773-270, Brasil).
The Pasteur Fiocruz Center is structured to accelerate research in the field of immunology, leading to the development of innovative immunotherapies to tackle (i) cancer, (ii) emerging, infectious and neglected diseases, and (iii) autoimmune, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. The Center gathers researchers with expertise in the search for immune mechanisms and the development of advanced therapies. The Center works in close collaboration with local Universities and health institutions, providing an inclusive and enthusiastic environment for researchers who wish to establish as an independent group leader.
The Center functions in a multi-user manner with specialized equipment and it is structured in a building which occupies an area of approximately 2,300 sqm, comprising laboratory areas with biosafety levels NB-1 and NB-2. A NB-3/NB-A3 laboratory and an accredited animal facility can be made available through the partnership with the Federal University of Ceará (UFC). In addition, Bio-Manguinhos, the Fiocruz unit responsible to produce vaccines, in vitro diagnostic kits and biopharmaceuticals, is a strategic industrial partner. Collectively, this structure will be available for the research activities of the G4 team.
Who can apply for a G4 PI position?
The G4 applicant should ideally be an early to mid-career post-doctoral scientist, wishing to establish a research group as an independent researcher at the Pasteur Fiocruz Center on Immunology and Immunotherapy. The G4 leader, as associate researcher of the Pasteur Fiocruz Center, and his/her teams must adhere to its rules and regulations.
An enabling environment should motivate the G4 award holder to pursue his/her career at the Pasteur Fiocruz Center with the prospect of obtaining a permanent position at the end of the award tenure. Fiocruz, through Fiotec, will be able to provide the G4 leader with financial support for a fifth year, after evaluation of the results presented at the end of the third year.
As Fiocruz is member of the Pasteur Network, it is expected that the G4 PI will express a willingness to participate in the development of this network by strengthening research through collaboration and training across the Pasteur Network.
As for any research group, the G4 award holder will be encouraged to develop and strengthen his/her capacity to manage a team and to welcome and supervise Masters and PhD students, as well as interns. A G4 PI can also hire postdoctoral researchers. During his G4 leader years the successful candidate will have to apply to international grants to secure the financial sustainability of his research group.
Finally, the involvement of the G4 PI in teaching activities will be highly appreciated.
The Pasteur Fiocruz Center should support the G4 PI to become an independent researcher and a future scientific leader in his field. Mentorship for the candidate will be put in place and a training on management will be offered (by the host institution). It is expected that successful candidates will be offered a permanent position at the end of the G4.
The partnership with Institut Pasteur
Institut Pasteur will support the career development of the G4 PI through four (4) annual payments of up to €100,000, payable at the beginning of each financial year. This fellowship can support the payment of G4 members, including G4 PI, up to 50% of its total annual amount.
All scientific and ethical standards and requirements, in accordance with the statutes of the HPI and Institut Pasteur, need to be respected as stipulated in the agreement relating to the G4. This agreement will also define the start date of the G4, which will be agreed with each successful applicant.
The period of tenure of a G4 award is 4 years.
The partnership with Fiocruz
Fiocruz, through Fiotec, will be able to provide the G4 leader with financial support for a fifth year, after evaluation of the results presented at the end of the third year.
Eligibility and selection criteria
Eligibility
Any scientist holding a PhD in health sciences and having a minimum of 4 years of post-doctoral research experience in immunology or related field can apply for G4 Award.
The call is open to researchers of any nationality (fluency in English is required).
The candidate cannot already have a permanent position at the Institut Pasteur or Fiocruz.
Selection criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the candidate's background and ability to develop scientific leadership as well as on the quality and originality of the proposed research project. Any proved experience on grant application and management is an asset.
The proposed research project will be also evaluated on the added values it will bring to the Pasteur Fiocruz Center and its contribution to the regional/global health priorities. Thus, the right match between the candidate and the host institute will be pivotal. Finally, the motivation of the candidate to participate to the scientific strenghthning of the Pasteur Network will be appreciated.
Submission requirements - Application Form
Applications must be written in English and submitted online. Incomplete or paper-based applications will not be considered.
Deadline for online submission: 1st Octber 2025, 12.00 CET
When deemed necessary, the Institut Pasteur reserves the right to ask candidates for additional information in order to evaluate their application.
Candidates must not submit information in their application that is confidential and/or protected by the intellectual property rights of third parties, and may contravene any rights of third parties.
Selection Process
The Selection Committee will be composed of a maximum of fourteen (14) experts from the main research domains developed within the Pasteur Network. Half of the members are recruited from outside the Pasteur Network and the other half is selected across the institutes of the Pasteur Network. Additional external expertise can be requested by the Scientific Partners.
Each application will be pre-reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board of the Centre. The four (4) best applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. The final decision will be made following the panel meeting and the interview of the 4 pre-selected candidates, to which the coordinating members of the Pasteur Fiocruz Center will be invited, and confirmed by the executive management. Candidates will be notified in due course.
Follow up process
The Department of International Affairs of Institut Pasteur is responsible of the follow-up process of the G4. As part of the evaluation, each year, the G4 PI should provide a complete progress report regarding the scientific activities, incuding details on annual expenditures.
Each G4 PI will be paired with a suitable mentor, offering advice and guidance for all aspects relating to G4 management and career development. The mentor will be identified from a pool of experienced scientists who already have experience in leading a research group. The G4 PI or the host institute direction can also suggest mentor.
Contacts
Questions related to this Call must be directed to:
Pasteur Fiocruz Center on Immunology and Immunotherapy:
Coordination: coord.cpfii@fiocruz.br
Institut Pasteur
G4 Programme: p4p@pasteur.fr