PhD student (f / m / d) - Understanding of fluid biomarkers in Astrocyto- and Synaptopathies

The department of Neurology of the University Medical Center Ulm (medical directors : Professor Dr. K.G. Häusler and Professor Dr. J. Weishaupt) is instantly looking for a PhD student (f / m / d) - Understanding of fluid biomarkers in Astrocyto- and Synaptopathies

The University Hospital Ulm with its employees (f / m / d) stands for a modern patient care with high quality, top research and medical teaching oriented towards the future as well as training in attractive professional fields.The prerequisites for this are qualified and committed employee.

The Clinical Neurochemistry is excited to announce an opening for a PhD position in our research team focused on the understanding of biomarkers in neurological diseases with astrocytic and / or synaptic involvement. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research at the intersection between laboratory and routine clinical analysis.

Astrocytopathies are a group of disorders that affect astrocytes. These cells play a crucial role in maintaining the blood-brain barrier and repairing the brain and spinal cord after injuries. One key marker of astrocytopathies is the presence of abnormal amounts of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Synaptopathies are a group of neurological disorders characterized by abnormalities in synaptic function, which is crucial for communication between neurons.

This Project concentrates on the deeper understanding of astrocytic and synaptic fluid biomarkers, especially GFAP with its various isoforms, to be able to better characterize, diagnose and predict these neurological conditions. The project will include a broad spectrum of methods and state-of-the-art technologies.

As a highly motivated team, we offer interesting research topics with utmost clinical relevance within an excellent scientific environment.

Your tasks :

The Clinical Neurochemistry working group (https : / / .uniklinik-ulm / neurologie / forschung-arbeitsgruppen.html) is dedicated to unraveling the pathological processes behind neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on early diagnosis and monitoring of neurological diseases by developing cutting-edge biomarker assays for detection of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and blood.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing fluid biomarker assays and validating them in clinical cohorts. Key tasks include designing and executing experiments, analyzing data, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.

We expect PhD students to join the International Graduate School of Molecular Medicine Ulm (IGradU). Furthermore, we encourage students to present their data in national and international conferences.

What we offer :

• Highly interesting research questions in a dynamic team
• Paying according to TV-L (Baden-Württemberg) and pension plan provided by your employer
• Support for pursuing a career with a work-family balance
• A variety of training programs that promote professional development
• Work place health promotion
• Various opportunities for recreational acitivities in the Ulm area

Your profile :

Contract : limited

Level of employment : part-time

application deadline : 18.04.2025

Please send your application as one merged PDF file containing a letter of motivation, CV (+ list of publications), certificates and transcripts of grades (B.Sc., M.Sc., other degrees), to

hayrettin.tumani@uni-ulm

steffen.halbgebauer@uni-ulm

Contact :

Prof. Dr. Hayrettin Tumani and

PD Dr. Steffen Halbgebauer

Klinik für Neurologie

Oberer Eselsberg 45

89081 Ulm  Employment takes place through the administration department of the University Medical Center Ulm, which acts in the aim and on behalf of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. Handicapped people with equal qualifications will be employed preferentially. The University Medical Center Ulm aims to increase the proportion of women and therefore encourages qualified female to submit their application.