2 PhD positions Biology/Immunology (Germany)

9 octobre 2012 admin Scholarship / Bourses

Airway inflammation ? crosstalk between immune cells and airway epitheliumPhD position Biology/Immunology (paid) available at Germany´s elite University of Heidelberg.

Founded in 1386, Heidelberg University, a state university of BadenWürttemberg, is Germany?s oldest university. According to the latest DAAD survey, Heidelberg is the favoured German university for international doctoral candidates.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Marcus Mall/ Dr. Benedikt Fritzsching at the Department of Translational Pulmonology, University of Heidelberg and Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg / German Lung Research Center (http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/index_e.html and http://www.dzg-lungenforschung.de/en/index.html)
Application Deadline: 31/10/2012

Start of PhD project: Jan 2013 or earlier

Source of Funding: BMBF (ca. US $ 2100/month or 1600 Euro/month depending on professional experience)
Project Description: Airway inflammation represents a hallmark of major lung diseases including cystic fibrosis, asthma and COPD. Molecular crosstalk between immune and epithelial cells has gained major interest. However precise mechanisms are largely unknown.We have previously established airway surface dehydration by epithelial dysfunction as a major cause for airway inflammation (1). Moreover we have identified epithelial ion channels critically modulated by immune- derived cytokines (2). Preliminary data suggest breakdown of immunological tolerance in mice with reduced airway mucus clearance. Peripheral tolerance involves regulatory T cells (3) and other leukocyte subpopulations in the lung.

The PhD student will focus on the cellular basis for immuno-epithelial interactions in vivo and in vitro. The student will unravel alterations of leukocyte subpopulations in an established transgenic mouse model. Epithelial sodium channel overexpression in this mouse model shows severe mucus obstruction (1). Moreover, analysis of immune cells derived factors on epithelial cells in vitro will allow detection of molecular mechanisms. Our preliminary data show promising candidates for further exploration.
The PhD project will be performed at the novel Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg embedded within the German Lung Research Center ? a leading national health service initiave (http://www.dzg-lungenforschung.de/) with access to cutting edge technology, weekly journal club, monthly international seminars and active meeting participation. The student will be supervised by an princpial investigator with international experience at Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic, USA.

References:(1) Mall M, Grubb BR, Harkema JR, O’Neal WK, Boucher RC. Nat Med. 2004 May;10(5):487-93. Epub 2004 Apr 11.(2) Anagnostopoulou P, Riederer B, Duerr J, Michel S, Binia A, Agrawal R, Liu X, Kalitzki K, Xiao F, Chen M, Schatterny J, Hartmann D, Thum T, Kabesch M, Soleimani M, Seidler U, Mall MA. J Clin Invest. 2012 Sep (3) Fritzsching B, Oberle N, Pauly E, Geffers R, Buer J, Poschl J, Krammer P, Linderkamp O, Suri- Payer E. Blood. 2006 Nov 15;108(10):3371-8. Epub 2006 Jul 25.Methods that will be used: Flow Cytometry, Mouse Lung Function, Confocal Microscopy, Immunohistology, cell Culture and basic molecular biology methods (i.e. quantitative PCR, transient overexpression), Electrophysiology.

Collaboration Partners include: University Hospital Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

English is also the language of the programme: Duration: 36 Months, begining in January 2013

Anforderungen an den Bewerber

Qualification: Graduate Student with excellent Master degree or diploma/state examination, excellent CV, basic training in immunology and/or lung biology, flow cytometry, cell culture and molecular biology are desirable. The enthusiastic candidate should be able to rapidly gain project responsibility, be interested in open discussions with colleagues and supervisors and able to present data on international meetings.Applications should include CV, letter of motivation, copy of graduation certificates (university, school), addresses of two referees.

Please apply by email to:
Benedikt.Fritzsching@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Personenkreis
Doktoranden

Pflichtanlagen

• Lebenslauf
• Diplom
• Abiturzeugnis
• Motivationsschreiben

Institution

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg / Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)
69117 Heidelberg

Fakultät / Institut
Department of Translational Pulmonology
Heidelberg
http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/index_e.html

Supervisor:

Dr. Benedikt Fritzsching
www.dzg-lungenforschung.de/en/index.html

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