德国癌症研究中心转化脑研究博士后职位

Position: Postdoctoral Position in Translational Brain Research

Department: Junior Research Group Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling

Code number: 2021-0232

The German Cancer Research Center is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. With more than 3,000 employees, we operate an extensive scientific program in the field of cancer research.

The laboratory of the Junior Research Group „Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling“ (headed by Dr. Moritz Mall) combines animal models, pluripotent stem cells, and genetic engineering to reconstruct and investigate human development and disease (Mall and Wernig, JMM 2017). Our mission is to understand the mechanisms that determine and maintain cell fate with the goal to treat diseases associated with loss of cell identity (Mall, Nature 2017; Lee and Mall, Nature Cell Bio 2020). Embedded within the Hector Institute of Translational Brain Research (HITBR) at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg our lab offers the unique opportunity to be part of our energetic and ERC-funded research team to work at the interface of stem cell biology, cancer and neuroscience.

Please visit https: // www. dkfz.de/en/cell-fate-engineering/ for more information on our lab.

Job description:

One of the most exciting concepts in biology is the plasticity of cell fate that allows cellular identity to be reset. Strikingly, this plasticity is essential for normal development, but several human diseases, such as cancer or neurological disorders, are also associated with unwanted changes in cell identity.

This postdoctoral project aims to push the boundaries of mental disease research by understanding the role of genetic mutations and epigenetic changes on cell identity during induction and progression of brain disorders ranging from autism to brain malignancies that affect patients worldwide and are a major medical and economic challenge. We believe that combining classical mouse models with novel genetic engineering and stem cell technologies has great potential to better understand complex human brain disorders and to identify strategies to treat these diseases in the future.

The successful candidate will be able to develop a research project using cutting-edge technologies such as stem cell-based in vitro neurological disease modeling. The tasks include genetic engineering, stem cell culture and differentiation as well as functional analysis of induced human neurons using a wide range of innovative technologies and research infrastructure. The major goals are outline below:

Design and develop cutting-edge research projects

Generate and characterize new mouse brain disease models

Optimize human stem cell culture and genetic engineering approaches

Develop novel 2 and 3D neurological disease models using human stem cells

Create and analyze next-generation proteomics and functional genomics data

Requirements:

We are looking for a highly motivated recently graduated top-level PhD with a strong background in molecular cell biology and/or neurobiology. Research experience in neurological disease modeling using animal and/or human pluripotent stem cells are desired. Skills in functional analysis of neurons using optogenetics, electrophysiology and/or multielectrode array is meriting. The ambitious candidate should be driven to develop a research project using cutting-edge technologies and fullfill the following requirements:

Demonstrated scientific productivity

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Reliable team player with very good organization skills

Functional genomics data generation and analysis skills

Hands-on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing experience

Extensive (neuronal) cell culture practice

Applications should include a cover letter and a CV with a complete list of publications as well as contact details of 3 references.

We offer:

Interesting, versatile workplace

International, attractive working environment

Campus with modern state-of-the-art infrastructure

Salary according to TV-L including social benefits

Possibility to work part-time

Flexible working hours

Comprehensive further training program

Access to the DKFZ International Postdoc Program

Earliest possible start date: as soon as possible

Duration: The position is limited to 2 years with the possibility of prolongation.

The position can in principle be part-time.

Application deadline: 18.08.2021