PhD candidate position (m/f/d) in translational inflammation research

Department of Internal Medicine I/Gastroenterology at University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel and Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) at Kiel University
Our group is part of the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB), within the medical faculty of Kiel University, and part of the Department of Internal Medicine I/Gastroenterology in the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH/CAU). These institutions are focused on the understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory disease, namely IBD and have contributed in the recent to the molecular understanding how IBD risk genes transform into chronic intestinal inflammation in human. With more than 70 clinics and institutes, UKSH/CAU is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. It offers outstanding medical treatment and excellence in research and education with nearly 17,000 employees. We provide top research conditions at the interface of medicine, science and technology and maintain research cooperations with universities all over the world. Our group is also part of the Cluster of Excellence ‘Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation’ as well as several international consortia including the EU-funded ‘3TR’, ‘ImmUniverse’ and ‘PerPrevCID’.
Start in our team
We are looking for professional and competent support to start as soon as possible, limited for 3 years.
What we offer:

The salary will be based on the German E 13 TV-L scale (65%), if terms and conditions under collective bargaining law are fulfilled
Part-time employment currently 25 hours/week
We offer an excellent and exciting multidisciplinary team-oriented research environment and opportunities to being part of the national and international scientific community
Our scientists are encouraged to attend international conferences and visit cooperation partners
We offer flexible working hours and various opportunities to reconcile work and family life.
Your role:
We expect you to lead the following activities:
Work collaboratively with your mentor to build an ambitious scientific agenda
Engage in experimental and/or computational trainings on state-of-the-art techniques needed for the project
Conduct computational and/or wet lab experiments
Analyze data and interpret results
Disseminate results through academic publications and conferences
Your profile:
We are interested in recruiting self-motivated individuals with a high desire to succeed and a strong dedication to excellence and high-quality research
Outstanding Master degree/university degree equivalent to a EU master’s degree in any fields of biology, chemistry, physics or computing sciences
Knowledge and training on basic computational and/or experimental techniques used in the fields of life sciences, chemistry or physics
Excellent skills in English are expected
Candidates with expertise in cutting-edge technology of life sciences, chemistry or physics will be strongly considered
Please submit your application until 9th April 2025, indicating the reference number 26153.
Further information on the project:
Our research group is dedicated to uncovering the molecular mechanisms that drive the individual responses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to advanced therapies. Our goal is to stratify patients into distinct molecular subgroups using omics-derived biomarkers. This approach will enable us to tailor therapies with unprecedented precision, empowering patients to take control of their health and optimize their treatment outcomes. To achieve this, we utilize state-of-the-art molecular tools, including single-cell sequencing and spatial omics platforms, to unravel complex cell-to-cell interactions within tissues and identify unique molecular signatures specific to individual cell types in various microenvironments.
Eosinophils, traditionally associated with parasitic and fungal infections as well as allergic diseases, have recently been implicated in a range of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs), particularly in the development of secondary fibrosis. A deeper exploration of eosinophil functional diversity in CIDs could shed light on their broader role in disease progression. We hypothesize that eosinophil-driven disease endotypes exhibit consistent cellular profiles across different organs and diseases. In IBD, eosinophilia is observed in both peripheral blood and tissue of some patients, especially those who do not respond to anti-TNF therapies. In a previous study (Mishra, Genome Med. 2022), we identified a tissue-based signature marked by elevated expression of Th2- and eosinophil-related genes in patients with IBD who were refractory to infliximab. While tissue eosinophilia in early disease is linked to milder cases, persistent eosinophilia in therapy-refractory patients correlates with severe disease and an increased need for hospitalization or surgery. The complex and sometimes contradictory roles of eosinophils in different tissues and clinical contexts may be attributed to distinct eosinophil populations, differentiation states, and their interactions with local cellular partners (Gurtner, Nature 2023).
In this project, the candidate will establish methods for isolating human tissue-resident eosinophils, allowing for detailed phenotypic and functional comparisons in different CIDs. We hypothesize that distinct eosinophil subpopulations emerge in CIDs, influenced by the spatiotemporal dynamics of disease states and treatment effects. Using advanced flow-cytometric and sorting techniques and spatial tissue phenotyping, we will characterize the presence and dynamic changes of eosinophil subsets in longitudinally obtained peripheral blood and tissue samples from type-2 “high” patients. Single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetics of eosinophils before and during therapy will enable the definition of dynamic shifts in eosinophil populations and their inferred functional and differentiation states. We will link observed changes with disease behavior and therapy response.
Campus Kiel

Veröffentlicht am: 26.03.2025
Standort: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 24105
Anstellungsart:
Befristung:
26153
Stichwörter: 26153
Arbeiten am Universitätsklinikum der Zukunft

Das Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) verbindet internationale Spitzenforschung mit interdisziplinärer Krankenversorgung. Wir sind einziger Maximalversorger und größter Arbeitgeber des Landes. Unsere rund 17.000 Mitarbeitenden stellen eine höchst individuelle Versorgung sicher - unverzichtbar für die Menschen in Schleswig-Holstein.
*Das UKSH und seine Töchter folgen den Grundsätzen der Chancengleichheit, wir schätzen Vielfalt. Darum begrüßen wir ausdrücklich Bewerbungen von allen Mitgliedern der Gesellschaft. Kontinuierlich arbeiten wir an der Gleichstellung aller Geschlechter.
Campus Kiel

Veröffentlicht am: 26.03.2025
Standort: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 24105
Ausschreibungsnummer: 26153
Haben Sie Fragen?

Ihr Kontakt zu uns: Prof. Florian Tran # 0431 500-15167
Prof. Florian Tran 0431 500-15167
Recruiter: Jessica Puton # 0431 - 500 11191 # https://rmkcdn.
Jessica Puton 0431 - 500 11191

Benefits am UKSH

Stellensegment: Biology, Molecular Biology, Clinical Research, Medical Research, Science, Healthcare, Part Time
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