Jobs

Doctoral Researcher (m/f/div)

The University Hospital Würzburg, Department of Internal Medicine II offers at the laboratory of AG Prof. Dr. Löffler, a


PH. D. student position (m/f/d)


The Department of Internal Medicine II at the University Hospital Würzburg runs one of the largest hematology and stem cell transplantation programs in Germany, which provides numerous opportunities for bench to bedside interaction, education and clinical translation.


Our research group combines two decades of experience in fungal immunology with leading translational research efforts. Our research focus is based on the pathogenic mould Aspergillus fumigatus, which represents the most relevant and detrimental fungal pathogen in immunocompromised patients. The risk to develop invasive aspergillosis is enhanced in patients after allogenic stem cell transplantation and patients with severe immunosuppression.


Our current research focuses on the development of a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-based immune therapy of Aspergillus infections, emphasizing the translational research focus and promoting direct and interdisciplinary bed-to-bench side flows. Thereby, we specifically concentrate our efforts on the interaction between CAR Natural Killer (NK) cells and CAR macrophages with A. fumigatus and aim to understand and to improve this CAR – A. fumigatus cross-talk.
Furthermore, in a parallel project, we deeply characterize the functional in vitro interaction of human Natural Killer cells with A. fumigatus, especially the cross-talk between the human receptor CD56 and its fungal ligand as well as the downstream pathways of CD56 using CRISPR-Cas9 and other tools.


Your challenge is to analyse the cross-talk of human immune cells (equipped with or without antifungal CAR structures) with A. fumigatus with technologies used in cell biology, molecular biology and immunology, including transcriptomics, proteomics and state-of-the-art microscopy.


Applicants for this position should have a strong background in immunology, cell biology and molecular biology, and are about to or have obtained their Master with excellent results.


Key characteristics of successful applicants will include enthusiasm, a team and result-oriented work style, excellent communication and organizational skills, the ability to face scientific challenges with creativity and dedication.

Our laboratory provides a highly innovative, stimulating and nurturing environment with an experienced team of scientists. Further, the applicant and project will benefit from collaborating with the Sonderforschungsbereich TransRegio 124 “FungiNet” Consortium and the Sonderforschungsbereich 1583 “DECIDE” Consortium as well as from an international team of outstanding collaborators and partners. This includes a close collaboration with the Wuerzburg Biocentre (Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics and Department of Bioinformatics).

We encourage our Ph. D. students to become a member of the Wuerzburg Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS), which offers a broad programme of further education. In addition, PhD students will be able to participate at mentoring programmes of the University of Wuerzburg and contribute
to lab management and organization.


This available position will start on 1 July 2024 and will be in accordance with the German public service salary scale (E13 TV-L, 65%).

Disabled applicants will be preferentially considered in case of equivalent qualifications.
Please send your letter of motivation (German or English, 1-2 pages), your CV, a list of publications, and names of 2 potential referees as a single combined pdf-file by email until 30 April 2024 to:


Loeffler_j@ukw.de


For more information, please visit our webpages


- www.medizin2.ukw.de/wue4i
- www.funginet.de
- www.crc-decide.de
- www.wue4i.org