The Institute of Medical Microbiology- research group of Prof. Dr. med. Mathias Hornef -has an open position to work for the European Research Council funded project 101019157 EarlyLife for a
Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in Neonatal Host-Microbe Interaction
Working hours: Full-time (38.5 hours/week)
Time limit: 2 years with option of prolongation
Entry: as soon as possible
Remuneration: EG 13 (TV-L)
The project/ tasks
The main objective of the project is to provide a better understanding of early life host-microbial interaction and the establishment of immune homeostasis in the small intestine. It is part of the ERC-funded EarlyLife project, which aims to generate a comprehensive map of postnatal epithelial cell type differentiation and investigate the impact of early life infection by important human bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens on long-term immune-mediated, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. Epigenetic and transcriptomic bulk and single cell profiling, microbiota analysis and -transfer experiments as well as primary cell culture and intestinal epithelial stem cell organoid co-culture will be used in combination with in vivo genetic models.
Your tasks and responsibilities
- Work with neonatal infection (Salmonella Typhimurium, Giardia lamblia, or rotavirus) and colonisation models
- Characterisation of immune cells, stromal cells, epithelial cells by multi-color flow cytometry, immunostaining, functional assays, bulk RNA-Seq, single cell ATAC/ RNA-Seq, spatial transcriptomics
- Computational data analysis supported by a bioinformatician
- Analysis of long-term immune priming using established challenge models (atopy, inflammation, vaccine)
- Presentation of data at national/ international conferences and manuscript preparation
- Co-supervision of master/ PhD students
Your profile
- Doctoral degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Immunology, or equivalent with outstanding result
- Experience in experimental research and interest in immunology, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, and/ or bioinformatics
- Experience with flow cytometry, immunostaining, essential cell and molecular biology techniques, and big data analysis (knowledge of R and Python is an advantage)
- Acquaintance with mouse models, experience in performing animal experimental work is an advantage
- High level of English written and spoken (Level C1)
- Willingness to work in a competitive international environment
Why should you choose us?
- 30 days vacation/year for full-time employees
- Employees who recruit employees for nursing care get a bonus of 3,000 euros
- An attractive VBL company pension scheme
- Further education and training opportunities
- Attractive conditions for local traffic transport system
- A company kindergarten (places subject to availability)
- Staff residence (places subject to availability and by arrangement)
- An onboarding app for new employees
- Extended opening hours for our staff restaurant
The application deadline for the advertised position GB-P-50031 is 24.01.2025.
Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen.
For more detailed information please contact Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Mathias Hornef, E-Mail: mhornefukaachende
Our homepage: AG Hornef (ukaachen.de)
We look forward to receiving your application!
This position is not gender specific.
The RWTH Aachen University Hospital promotes equal opportunities and diversity. Applications from women are expressly encouraged and if the applicant is suitable qualified, they will be given priority in accordance with the LGG. If suitably qualified, people with a registered disability will also receive priority.
Weekly hours are negotiable.
You should preferably use our digital application portal at www.karriere.ukaachen.de for your application. There you have the option of securing your documents in the electronic application folder to prevent unauthorized access. Applications that reach us by email to: bewerbung@ukaachen.de (this transmission path cannot be as effectively secured) will be transferred to the aforementioned portal and any accompanying documents will be disposed of in accordance with data protection regulations immediately after transfer. After the retention period has expired, the data in the portal will also be deleted. If you do not agree to a transfer to the Application portal your application cannot be considered
