PhD Position in Brain Organoid-Based Pharmacovigilance (65% TV-L EG13) Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices 150_2023

The Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology

(Director: Prof. Dr. Oliver Brüstle)

at the University Hospital Bonn offers a

PhD Position in Brain Organoid-Based Pharmacovigilance

(65% TV-L EG13)

for a joint research project with the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
(Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte; BfArM)
The position is limited for 3 years due a project.

The aim of the project is to study the impact of pharmaceutical compounds on the earliest stages of human brain development using human pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids. The project is expected to generate immediate information on developmental neurotoxicity of selected compounds and to deliver a novel stem cell-based approach for pharmacovigilance in fetal drug exposure.

The experiments will be conducted at both institutions and encompass:

• Cultivation and differentiation of human pluripotent and neural cells
• Generation of cerebral organoids and their cellular and molecular characterization
• High end imaging, including light sheet fluorescence microscopy
• Gene expression analyses, including single cell RNA sequencing
• Epigenetic analyses, including miRNA regulation and DNA methylation
• Bioanalytical methods to quantify drugs and metabolites (LC-MS/MS techniques) and to determine enzyme kinetic parameters

Your profile:

• Highly motivated, team-oriented scientist with a strong interest in human stem cell-based model systems, neurodevelopment and pharmacology
• Master’s/diploma or equivalent degree in the biosciences, pharmacy, medicine or related disciplines with a cell biological and/or bioanalytical focus 
• Sound experience in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology and microscopical analyses
• Experience in cerebral organoid technology, scRNAseq and bioanalytical methods (e.g. FACS, LC-MS/MS) is desirable

The PhD project will be integrated into the BIGS Neuroscience PhD Program at the University of Bonn. This PhD program is embedded in a vibrant and collaborative research environment including the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and high-profile research institutes such as the Caesar Research Institute of the Max Planck Association and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. This multidisciplinary research environment guarantees an optimally structured, student-centered and English language-based Ph.D. program with extensive training and support.

The University of Bonn is an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified women or applicants with disabilities, all other considerations being equal.

We offer you intensive training in an exciting, interdisciplinary field of research in which you will work with a highly-motivated team and in a modern laboratory environment. Salary will be according to the German salary scale TV-L E13 (65%). Subsidized use of public transport (Job ticket) and an attractive pension plan (VBL) are available.

Interested candidates submit a letter of motivation, CV, the abstract of the Master’s thesis or equivalent and a short list of the previously learned methods as single PDF file via email with reference to the job post number 150_2023 until 3 weeks after publication.

Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology Universitätsklinikum Bonn

Attn. Alexandra Rabe

Venusberg-Campus 1

Building C76

D-53127 Bonn

Telefon: 0228-6885-503

Email: r.neuro@uni-bonn.de