PhD Student: Lab of Translational Microbiome Research
Cluster of Excellence CMFI | now
To be filled as soon as possible.
The Lab of Translational Microbiome Research (Head: C. Stein-Thoeringer), part of the Cluster of Excellence “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI), at the University of Tübingen studies the cross-talk between gut microbes, pathogens, the immune milieu and environmental factors in cancer development, therapy and infections. The lab’s science mission is to understand how individual bacteria, microbial consortia or microbial perturbations through diets or antibiotics interplay with inflammatory responses and metabolic disturbances to drive carcinogenesis and metastasis preclinical models. We also study the longitudinal cross-talk of cancer therapies with the gut microbiota in patients and in mouse models to investigate causal relations, e.g., by direct bacterium-host cell interactions or via microbial metabolites. Thereby this PhD-project focuses on CAR-T cell therapies.
We are using cutting-edge wet-lab techniques combined with bioinformatic tools to sequence and to analyse the microbiome from different sites of the gastrointestinal tract applying culture-omics and high-resolution metagenome sequencing techniques. This approach is combined with multi-omics characterisation of the host’s immune system or the metabolome, and we utilize gnotobiotic model systems to infer causality in microbe-host interactions. In translational clinical approaches, we are performing clinical studies to study patient microbiomes, associations with disease and environmental factors and carry out microbiome-based interventions for the benefit of patients.
Specific research project
In the Lab of Translational Microbiome Research, we are studying the interactions between the mammalian host, the immune system, and the microbiome both in clinical and preclinical studies.
We are offering a PhD project position (E13 TV-L, 65%) as part of a translational cancer research funded by the Robert-Bosch-Foundation. This project aims to elucidate the interactions of microbes at different sites of the oro-intestinal tract, their metabolites and the immune system in pancreatic cancer development and therapy. These studies also include research on microbiome changes during chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients and associations with cancer therapy efficacy and toxicities.
All research will be carried out in the new M3 (Mikrobiom-Metabolom-Malignom) – Institute at the University of Tübingen.
- Microbiome Profiling: next-level sequencing techniques to analyze the composition, diversity, and functional potential of the gut microbiota.
- Multi-omics Integration: Integrate microbiome data with transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles to identify potential host-microbiome interactions.
- In vitro and In vivo models; from cell and microbe cultures to laboratory animal work.
- advanced immune cell flow cytometry
- state-of-art bioinformatic methods for high-resolution microbe and genome analyses.
For further information also check our homepage:
Candidate profile
- highly motivated and interested in the fundamental mechanism of the gut microbiome, infection, cancer and translation of laboratory finding into perspective clinical applications.
- Master degree in microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology or biotechnology is preferential.
- Previous experimental experience in animal model research, basic molecular biology, microbiology and cell culture techniques are of advantage.
- fundamental statistical and computational skills (preferential) and an interest to broaden the use of computational methods for microbiome data analysis.
- Team-working abilities are essential. Critical independent thinking is encouraged. The successful candidate will develop excellent experimental, communication and presentation skills, and will be familiarized with a high performing scientific environment that gives an advantage for career development in both academia and industry.
Applications or questions about the position should be sent to Christoph Stein-Thoeringer (christoph.stein-thoeringer
@med.uni-tuebingen.de).
Please send your application as a single PDF file that includes: a cover/motivation letter; your CV/biosketch; contact information for two references; and university transcripts.
The University of Tübingen is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence through diversity. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age.
The review of applications will begin in Mai 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.