The Tumor Immunometabolism research group led by Jun. Prof. Laura Surace at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology (University Hospital Bonn Campus), Faculty of Medicine Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms-University Bonn 

invites applications for part-time (25,025h/week)

PhD position – Metabolic regulation of tissue-resident immune cells during metastasis

We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in immunology. Our lab is interested in better understanding the role of tissue-resident immune cells in metastasis formation. We aim to achieve this by defining tissue-specific immune subset metabolic requirements, phenotype and function and by assessing their interplay with the other components of the primary tumor and metastasis microenvironment. We specifically focus on innate lymphoid cells (ILC) and T cells (Karagiannis F*, Peukert K*, Surace L*, et al. Nature 2022; Surace et al. Nature Immunology 2021; Surace et al. Blood Advances 2021). For more information, please refer to the website à https://www.ukbonn.de/ikckp/forschung/ag–surace/.  The project will investigate how changes in host metabolism shape the cellular composition and the metabolic features of the tissue microenvironment, during tumor development and metastasis. Ultimately the goal is to identify novel therapeutic strategies, including dietary intervention, that would be applicable in the treatment of metastatic cancer. 

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in life science (biology, biomedicine, molecular medicine or comparable studies).
• Candidates with experience in immunology, molecular or cell biology and biochemistry are specifically encouraged to apply
• Experience in laboratory techniques and the use of experimental mouse models
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• English skills

The candidate will work with mouse models and human samples applying classical immunological methods alongside cutting-edge technologies, including imaging mass spectrometry, multiplex tissue imaging, metabolomics and extracellular flux analysis. The selected candidate will have access to scientific and soft skill training through courses provided by the University of Bonn and external institutions. 

We offer:

• Responsible and versatile: a job with a lot of creative freedom in a collegial team
• Secure in the future: fee according to TV-LEG13
• Flexible for families: flexible working time models, the option of a place in the company day-care center and offers for those returning from parental leave
• Provision for later: company pension scheme
• Clever to work: Possibility of an interest-free loan to buy an e-bike
• Tailor-made education: Subsidized further education and training
• Systematic start: Structured induction
• Healthy at work: Numerous health promotion offers, free membership in UKBfit
• Employer benefits: preferential offers for employees (corporate benefits)