Senior Principal Investigator in Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy

The Center for Applied Medical Research (Cima) at the University of Navarra is launching an international call for applications to recruit a Senior Principal Investigator in Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy. This position is aimed at attracting established scientific talent capable of leading a high-impact research team and driving a competitive, innovative, and independent line of research on an international scale.

We are seeking a candidate with a proven track record of scientific excellence, demonstrated research independence, and a competitive profile for securing European funding of excellence (such as ERC grants). The position is designed to recruit a scientific leader capable of strengthening and expanding strategic research areas in immunology and cancer immunotherapy, contributing significantly to Cima's international visibility and the scientific objectives of the Severo Ochoa program.

The successful candidate will join Cima's Immunology and Immunotherapy Division, within an exceptionally collaborative environment that combines basic, translational, and clinical research thanks to close interaction with the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, one of Europe's leading academic medical centers.

This position offers the opportunity to develop an independent scientific program with access to:

• State-of-the-art scientific infrastructure.
• Advanced technology platforms.
• Biobanks and well-characterized clinical cohorts.
• Clinical research and immunotherapy trials.
• Direct collaboration with oncologists, hematologists, pathologists, and other clinical specialists.
• Institutional support for securing competitive national and international funding, including ERC grants.

The objective is to recruit a researcher capable of developing an internationally visible program and contributing to positioning Cima as one of the European leaders in cancer immunology and immunotherapy.

Scientific area

We are seeking candidates with outstanding expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Tumor immunology.
• Mechanisms of response and resistance to immunotherapy.
• Immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment.
• RNA-based immunotherapies.
• Bispecific antibodies and advanced multispecific chimeric and immunological constructs.
• Cancer vaccines.
• Next-generation cell therapies and immunotherapies.
• Translational research in solid tumors.
• Advanced preclinical models (murine and others) for studying immunotherapy and its mechanisms.
• Immunomonitoring using multi-omic technologies in solid tumors.
• Precision immunology applied to cancer.

Candidates with expertise in the following fields will also be of particular interest:

• Single-cell omics.
• Spatial transcriptomics.
• Systems biology.
• Artificial intelligence applied to immunology.
• Gene editing.
• Computational biology.
• Functional genomics.
• Advanced in vivo imaging.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

• Leading an independent and competitive research program in cancer immunology and immunotherapy.
• Defining and developing their own scientific vision with a long-term international perspective.
• Lead and consolidate an independent research group, with a starting "start-up package" to fund predoctoral and technical staff, with the possibility of expansion based on external competitive funding secured.
• Securing competitive national and international funding, including excellence programs such as the ERC.
• Driving scientific collaborations within Cima and with the Departments of Oncology and Pathology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
• Contributing to the strategic development of the Immunology and Immunotherapy Division.
• Actively participating in institutional initiatives linked to the Severo Ochoa program.
• Training and mentoring early-career researchers, including PhD students.
• Promoting knowledge transfer and the development of research with potential clinical impact.

What Cima offers

The successful candidate will join as an independent Principal Investigator, with full scientific autonomy to develop their research program.

Cima offers:

• A stable position at one of Spain's most prestigious biomedical institutions.
• A highly collaborative, international scientific environment.
• Integration into a unique ecosystem connecting basic, translational, and clinical research.
• Laboratory space and resources for the development of the scientific program.
• An initial startup package tailored to the candidate's experience and scientific needs, which includes funding to recruit technical staff, a PhD student, or a postdoctoral researcher.
• Core funding for the initial years of the program.
• Access to advanced technology platforms.
• Access to clinical samples, patient cohorts, and research programs developed jointly with the Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
• Specialized institutional support for the preparation and management of competitive calls, including ERC applications.
• An environment committed to scientific excellence, innovation, and research with patient impact.

About Cima

The Center for Applied Medical Research (Cima) at the University of Navarra is an internationally renowned translational biomedical research institute, founded in 2004.

Cima is part of the University of Navarra, an international institution and a corporate work of Opus Dei, committed to excellence in research and education. Inspired by the Christian message of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, it promotes respect for personal freedom, the dignity of every individual, and the ideas and beliefs of its professionals, while generating knowledge to serve society.

Cima is a leading institution in advanced therapies, personalized medicine, and precision medicine, with a prominent focus on immunotherapy, gene and cell therapies, and RNA- and DNA-based medicine. Furthermore, the center maintains strategic alliances with top-tier pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and BioNTech, as well as with academic centers of excellence.

The close integration between Cima and the Clínica Universidad de Navarra provides a unique ecosystem to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into real improvements in patient care.

Application Process

Interested candidates must submit:

• A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A cover letter.
• A description of their main scientific achievements.
• A summary proposal of the research program they wish to develop at Cima.
• Contact details of academic references.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

Cima is committed to equal opportunity, diversity, and scientific excellence. We foster and champion equal opportunity based on talent and capability, in accordance with the Open, Transparent, and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) principles of the HRS4R seal, awarded by the European Commission to institutions that generate and support a stimulating and favorable research environment. Researchers are expressly encouraged to apply, with applications always evaluated based on scientific merit, potential, leadership, and impact.

This position forms part of the talent attraction initiatives outlined in our Strategic Research Plan and is funded through the Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence Programme (CEX2025-001586-S). The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the Centre’s capabilities and further consolidate its international scientific leadership.

We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining talented individuals who wish to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and to the service of society. We believe that research excellence is enriched by the diversity of experiences, perspectives, and personal and professional backgrounds. We therefore encourage applications from all qualified candidates who share our commitment to scientific excellence, the pursuit of knowledge, and the generation of societal impact.

We are seeking researchers with a proven track record of scientific excellence, a clear history of mentoring predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and demonstrated scientific independence through their own lines of research with international visibility

Candidates must demonstrate:

• A PhD in Immunology, Biomedicine, Cancer Biology, or related fields.
• Predoctoral and postdoctoral training, with a career development track record that demonstrates consolidation as an independent researcher (at the associate professor level or equivalent).
• Significant experience in internationally renowned biomedical research centers.
• Demonstrated scientific independence through independent lines of research.
• A strong track record of publications in immunology, cancer biology, or cancer immunotherapy, with contributions as a senior author.
• A record of accomplishment of securing competitive funding from national and international sources.
• A competitive profile to apply for ERC funding (Starting, Consolidator, or Advanced Grant, depending on career stage).
• Scientific leadership and team management capabilities.
• International visibility and recognition within their field of expertise.
• A commitment to translational research and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Translational experience, as well as prior interaction with or employment in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, will be highly valued

Particularly valued qualifications

Particular consideration will be given to:

• Publications as a senior author in top-tier international scientific journals, as well as contributions as a first author and other relevant collaborative publications.
• Evidence of independent extramural funding, both national and international.
• Evidence of international scientific visibility (invited lectures, scientific committees, and editorial activities).
• Leadership in emerging areas of cancer immunology and immunotherapy.
• Participation in international scientific networks.
• Coordination of multicenter collaborative projects.
• Evidence of knowledge transfer and biomedical impact.
• Translational experience and/or prior interaction or employment with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies.
• Training and supervision of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Furthermore, particular consideration will be given to eligibility, prior experience, or competitive potential for securing international funding of excellence, preferably including ERC Consolidator or ERC Advanced Grants (candidates eligible for an ERC Starting Grant will also be considered), as well as:

• Horizon Europe.
• Cancer Research Foundations.
• Other international competitive funding programs.