PhD Student (f/m/x)

Project focus: Analysis of the transgenerational effect of maternal and early childhood obesity on the health of offspring.

 Furthermore

• Identification of cellular as well as intercellular networks of early aging processes after perinatal stress
• Characterization of pulmonary phenotype using lung function measurements, quantitative lung morphometry and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence-based analyses
• Flow cytometry analysis
• Independently perform physiological examinations
• Close scientific collaboration in an international team under supervision of the group leader and the PostDocs
• Analysis of collected data including storage and statistical analysis
• Writing of scientific abstracts/manuscripts and publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Participation in scientific congresses, as well as presentation of the work (poster presentations, lectures)
• Planning, management and coordination of animal experimental, cell biological as well as bioinformatic studies

PhD-Requirements: 

• Degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in life sciences (e.g. medicine, biology or a comparable qualification)
• Strong interest in lung development and applied lung biology
• Excellent knowledge of English is mandatory, as the laboratory language is English
• The applicant should have an extraordinary degree of independence and initiative and be able to represent the Institute appropriately in public relations
• He/she should be a team player, creative, enthusiastic and passionate about biomedicine
• Knowledge of data storage and analysis

Expertise in the following methods:

• Knowledge of experimental models of cardiopulmonary diseases, such as animal models of as chronic hypoxia/hyperoxia and high-fat diet models
• Experience with cell biology methods
• Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence
• Carrying out cell culture experiments.
• Isolation and cultivation of primary cells
• Quantitative histomorphometry of the lung including organ fixation and organ harvesting
• FACS-analyses
• Experience in animal physiology and cell biology work
• Experience in animal handling and experimental design using genetic modified mice (e.g. Cre-Lox); comprehensive pathophysiological knowledge. Applicants with experience in handling laboratory animals and genetically modified mice including anesthesia and injection techniques are preferred

• A varied job in a highly interesting and challenging research topic
• A fair working environment with appreciative cooperation
• Possibility to develop side projects according to personal interests
• Internal and external training opportunities
• Flexible working time models to support family life
• Occupational health management offers

Working at the University Hospital Cologne and the Medical Faculty means helping to shape the future - the future of medicine, of patients and, of course, your own future. You benefit from 60 clinics and institutes as well as numerous other departments and facilities and more than 12,000 jobs. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne and the University Hospital Cologne assume important social tasks in research, teaching and patient care. A close network with many university and non-university partners guarantees an internationally successful science and the excellent education of our students.

The Alcazar Laboratory "Experimental Pneumology" of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne offers a PhD position to study molecular mechanisms of normal and abnormal lung development. The overall goal of the project is to identify cellular as well as intercellular networks of early aging processes after perinatal stress. Well-established and characterized perinatal stress models in mice, as well as transgenic prematurely aging mice, will be used.

A variety of techniques are used to explore this scientific question: Lung function measurements, multi-Omics techniques (e.g. phopsho proteomics, proteomics, scRNASeq), quantitative histology and immunohistochemistry, isolation of primary lung cells, FACS, cell culture-based studies, and cell function analyses.

We are associate members of the CECAD and the DZL.