PhD Position at HI-TRON Mainz: The Helmholtz-Institut für Translationale Onkologie (HI-TRON) in Mainz is inviting applications for a PhD position (m/f/d). The project, titled “Exploring how stromal-Immune interactions shape skin disease,” will be supervised by Dr. Hafsa Munir. The research group is part of the HI-TRON Mainz, a collaboration between the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), TRON gGmbH, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and the University Medical Center Mainz, focusing on developing immunotherapies and identifying biomarkers for cancer treatment effectiveness.
Designation: PhD Candidate
Research Area: Exploring phenotypic and functional differences in mouse and human dermal fibroblasts in cancer (melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma) compared with autoimmune skin (photosensitive skin lesions and psoriatic skin). Investigating how fibroblast subsets influence infiltrating myeloid cells in different disease contexts and assessing the impact of ultraviolet radiation exposure on dermal fibroblast responses.
Location: Helmholtz-Institut für Translationale Onkologie (HI-TRON), Mainz, Germany
Eligibility/Qualification:
- Master’s degree in BioMedicine, Biotechnology, or Natural Science.
- Knowledge and experience in Immunology and associated functional assays are desired but not mandatory.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Good communication skills, organizational abilities, and adaptability to a creative and multidisciplinary environment.
Job Description: The successful candidate will:
- Investigate dermal fibroblast states using state-of-the-art techniques, including single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, spectral flow cytometry/FACS, and immunofluorescent imaging.
- Explore how distinct fibroblast subsets influence the immune landscape of tumors in different disease contexts.
- Utilize techniques to understand the impact of ultraviolet radiation on dermal fibroblast responses.
- Contribute to skewing dermal cancer-associated fibroblasts towards an “autoimmune-like state” to enhance the anti-tumor immune response.
How to Apply: Interested candidates should send their CV, a one-page motivation letter, and contact details for two referees to Dr. Hafsa Munir at hafsainunir@dkfz-heidelberg.de.
Start Date: To be discussed during the interview.
Last Date for Apply: Until position filled
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from a reliable channel. However, applicants are advised to verify details from the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.