Scientist, TCR Biology

Role Overview

We are seeking a Scientist in TCR Biology to join the DeepIR flagship initiative
, where they will drive experimental data generation of TCR–pMHC interactions
. This role will focus on designing and executing assays that characterize TCR specificity, affinity, and cross-reactivity, producing high-quality datasets that directly support DeepIR’s modeling and discovery goals. This is a hands‑on experimental role with significant ownership over assay development, data quality, and scientific interpretation, working closely with protein engineers, computational scientists, and cell biology teams.

DeepIR is BIIE’s flagship initiative focused on building deep, mechanistic, and data‑driven understanding of immune recognition. The program brings together experimental immunology, protein engineering, and machine learning to generate and integrate large‑scale, high‑quality datasets that enable predictive models of immune receptor–antigen interactions.

The key responsibilities of the Scientist in TCR Biology:

• Design, develop, and execute experimental assays to characterize TCR–pMHC binding and function
• Generate high-quality datasets on TCR specificity, affinity, kinetics, and cross-reactivity in support of DeepIR
• Express, purify, and characterize TCRs and pMHCs using biochemical and biophysical approaches
• Perform and optimize cellular and cell‑free assays (e.g., multimer binding, SPR/BLI, functional T cell assays)
• Ensure experimental rigor, reproducibility, and appropriate controls across all data generation efforts
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, clearly communicating findings to interdisciplinary teams
• Collaborate closely with computational and data science teams to ensure datasets are well‑structured and model‑ready
• Contribute to experimental strategy, assay roadmap development, and continuous improvement of lab workflows
• Maintain thorough documentation and contribute to internal knowledge sharing

Core skills and experience expected from the Scientist in TCR Biology:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field
• Strong foundational knowledge of T cell biology and TCR–pMHC interactions
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience generating experimental data (academic or industry)
• Experience with one or more of the following: TCR or pMHC expression and purification, Biophysical binding assays (e.g., SPR, BLI), Flow cytometry‑based binding or functional assays, and T cell activation or signaling assays
• Ability to design experiments independently and troubleshoot complex biological systems
• Strong data analysis and scientific communication skills

The Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) is a newly founded non‑profit research organization aiming to become a world leading research institute for the advanced study of immunological systems with a mission to develop translational solutions for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. The scientific foundation of the BIIE and the broader field of Immune Engineering is based on the intersection of three interdisciplinary subdomains: (i) systems immunology, (ii) synthetic immunology and (iii) computational immunology.

The BIIE will serve as a hub for multidisciplinary science, by uniting people with diverse expertise in immunology, biomedicine, bioengineering, systems and synthetic biology, computational biology, artificial intelligence and machine learning. As part of the mission of BIIE to make a lasting impact, it will dedicate significant efforts in training early‑stage researchers in this unique multidisciplinary environment, thus enabling them to become future leaders in Immune Engineering.