Postdoc (Gn*)

The Immune-Microbiota Interactions Laboratory in the Department of Translational Rheumatology, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Münster, Germany, is offering a position for a project on the role of the microbiome in autoimmunity at the earliest opportunity, initially limited to 1 year with the possibility of extension to at least 3 years.

Full-time with 38,5 hours (100%)
Salary level according to TV-L E13

The Group and Project:
The Immune-Microbiota Interactions Laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host-microbiota interactions in immune-mediated diseases. The group explores basic mechanisms of immunologic tolerance and its failure in the context of gut, skin, and other mucosal microbiota. The lab has previously investigated this field at Yale University before relocating to the University of Münster, Germany. The lab has previously identified several pathobionts in autoimmunity (Vieira et al, Science 2018; Greiling et al, Sci Transl Med 2018; Ruff et al, Cell Host Microbe 2019; Zegarra-Ruiz et al, Cell Host Microbe 2019) that are being studied in more depth (Gronke et al, Sci Transl Med, in press) within a global network. Our lab is highly interdisciplinary and uses human tissue, organoid, and murine gnotobiotic approaches coupled with next-generation human microbiome sequencing to identify commensal triggers in autoimmunity and cancer. Techniques span a broad range from immunology, cell and molecular biology to microbiology including gnotobiotics, organoids, cell-bacteria-co-culturing, measurement of epithelial barrier integrity (TEER), qPCR, bacteria mutants, anaerobic cultivation, strain isolation and identification.

Your requirements:

• University degree with doctorate in biology, human biology, biochemistry, biomedicine or other life sciences
• Experienced knowledge of microbiological and molecular biological techniques such as culturing of fastidious bacteria (anaerobic cultivation, strain isolation from complex (human) samples), design and generation of deletion mutants in gram positive background is appreciated
• Basic knowledge in immunological techniques such as FACS, ELISAs, T/B cell stimulation assays
• Basic knowledge of in vitro and in vivo models
• Experiences in working with different knock out and transgenic animals, ideally gnotobiotic research experience would be beneficial but is not essential
• Independent, reliable and structured way of working with a strong sense of quality is essential
• Flexibility, high team and communication skills and motivation
• Ability to independently establish new methods and to independently and critically reflect on scientific data
• Excellent Internet and PC skills (Powerpoint, Excel, GraphPadPrism)
• Very good written and spoken English language skills
• Willingness to travel for several days in order to present research data at national and international events

What we offer:

• Training and working in the cutting-edge field of host-microbiota interactions with projects embedded in a highly dynamic team connected with global collaborators
• Support for personal development and training (e.g. structured development of leadership competencies)
• Access to different cohort studies, patient registers and biomaterials

The Immune-Microbiota Interactions Laboratory is affiliated with the Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University Hospital of Münster and the Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine. It is located adjacent to the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine and partly housed in the Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation. For more information about the group see here.

Prerequisites:

• Applicants will have successfully completed a PhD or MD/PhD in a field related to microbiology, immunology, molecular biology

For more information please contact: Dr. Sylvio Redanz, T 0251 83 52987.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application form (“Jetzt bewerben” „Apply now“) until 11.12.2024.

The University Hospital of Münster is one of the leading hospitals in Germany. Such a position cannot be achieved by size and medical successes alone. The individual commitment counts above all. We need your commitment so that even with little things we can achieve great things for our patients. There are many possibilities open for you so that you may develop with them.