Internship opportunity – Development of Immunomonitoring Assays for the Preclinical Characterization of Biotherapeutics
Internship opportunity – Development of Immunomonitoring Assays for the Preclinical Characterization of BiotherapeuticsLooking for an Internship for the 2026 Academic Year? We Have Great News!
Our Immunobiology Laboratory in Aye is looking for its next generation of interns!
One of the internship topics we can offer is:
“Development of Immunomonitoring Assays for the Preclinical Characterization of Biotherapeutics”
Why Choose This Internship?
Next-generation biotherapeutics and vaccines are rapidly transforming healthcare through increasingly sophisticated technologies, including immunotherapies and innovative biological products. Their development relies on preclinical approaches capable of understanding their mechanisms of action and predicting their efficacy in humans.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in these challenges by contributing to the functional and immunological characterization of innovative biotherapeutics within a preclinical platform focused on innovation and precision medicine.
Scientific Background
The preclinical evaluation of biotherapeutics increasingly depends on an integrated understanding of the immune responses they trigger, from antigen recognition to cellular and functional responses.
As part of a predictive and personalized medicine approach, our platform develops immunomonitoring strategies based on human immune cells and advanced analytical tools. The objective is to enhance the human relevance of preclinical models and improve the prediction of the clinical performance of therapeutic candidates.
Internship Objectives
As part of the strengthening of our immunomonitoring platform, the internship will focus on one of the following areas:
Topic 1
Development and structuring of an immunopeptidomics analytical pipeline aimed at identifying and characterizing antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules, supporting the understanding of immune recognition mechanisms and the selection of relevant epitopes in a preclinical context.
Topic 2
Development and optimization of cellular immunogenicity assays using human PBMCs to evaluate immune responses induced by biotherapeutics or vaccine candidates, particularly regarding cellular activation, proliferation, and cytokine production.
Topic 3
Integration of analytical and functional immunomonitoring data into a comprehensive approach aimed at improving the immunological characterization of therapeutic candidates and enhancing the predictive relevance of preclinical assessments.
Approaches and Technologies
- Isolation and culture of human immune cells (PBMCs)
- Development of functional cell-based assays for the characterization of biotherapeutics and monoclonal antibodies
- Assessment of biological activity and cytotoxicity, including:
- Cytokine induction
- Potency assays
- Antibody effector functions (ADCC, ADCP, CDC)
- Sample preparation for antigen presentation analysis
- Peptide analysis by nanoLC–MS/MS in collaboration with the analytical platform
- Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of functional and analytical data
- Contribution to the optimization and standardization of platform protocols
Candidate Profile
This internship is intended for students enrolled in an engineering program in biotechnology, bioengineering, or an equivalent Master’s degree (MSc) program, with a background in cell biology, immunology, or biotechnology.
A strong interest in biotherapeutics, vaccines, and healthcare innovation is expected, along with the ability to work independently, rigorously, and proactively in an applied research environment.
Duration and Location
Duration: 3 to 6 months
Location: CER Groupe Rue de la Science 8 6900 AYE (Marche-en-Famenne), Belgium
⚠️ Please note: the site is not easily accessible by public transportation.
How to Apply
Interested in this internship opportunity?
Send your CV and cover letter to : Héloïse WILMET, HR Business Partner
📧 Email: recrutement@cergroupe.be