Scientist Immunology

About the Vaccine Formulation Institute (VFI)

VFI’s mission is to develop innovative adjuvants and vaccine formulations to prevent infectious diseases worldwide. Founded in 2012, VFI facilitates open access to adjuvant technology through the provision of a range of adjuvants for preclinical and clinical use, research and development of adjuvanted vaccines, GMP manufacturing, technology transfer, and specialized adjuvant training. VFI’s laboratories are located in Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland, and members of the Senior Leadership team are based in Europe. VFI is a partner in several international vaccine consortia and programs contributing to Global Health with a specific focus on low-resource settings. Our collaborators include private companies, academic/public institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. VFI’s funders include the European Commission, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Coalition for Epidemics Preparedness Innovations, the Gates Foundation, Coefficient Giving, and the National Institutes of Health.

Position

VFI wishes to recruit a Scientist in Immunology to join our team in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, optimize and troubleshoot new immunological assays and methodologies in VFI labs
• Carry out laboratory procedures (sample collection and processing, flow cytometry, ELISA) either independently or as part of a team
• Support VFI research teams to develop and test new formulations and processes
• Analyze, interpret and review data and monitor the progress of project activities
• Write and review reports, present findings to the team and external partners
• Document results and draft scientific publications
• Regularly review relevant scientific literature to keep the team up to date on key immunology concepts, emerging methods, and scientific advances in the fields of interest.
• Identify new ideas and approaches to further develop VFI adjuvant portfolio (optional)
• Develop R&D project proposals for internal and external submissions (optional)

Qualifications and Requirements

• Ph.D. in a field related to Immunology
• Good knowledge of immunological concepts in the context of infectious disease and vaccinology, e.g. immune memory, innate-adaptive interface
• Experienced in immunological assays, including but not limited to flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPot/FluorSpot, culture/coculture of primary cells and cell lines, processing and analysis of primary tissue
• Qualification and experience in animal (mouse/rat) experimentation, equivalent to module 1 and 2 in Switzerland
• Experience in the independent and timely management of scientific projects
• Excellent standard of both written and spoken English
• Experience and willingness to work within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment

Working conditions

• Primary place of work will be at VFI headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland with regular travels to Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Full-time and part-time employment will be considered.

How to apply

Kindly submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your motivation, qualifications and suitability for the position. Both should be submitted in English using the subject line “J2_2026”. The deadline for applications is 30th November 2026.