Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin - Institut für Immunologie

The scientific interest of the Institute of Immunology is the interaction between the immune system and infectious agents. Within the group of pathogens, we focus on infections with parasitic worms. Our research concentrates on immune mechanisms that enable the parasites to survive chronically in infected hosts. The long-term goal is to understand the chronic survival of parasitic worms in their hosts and to develop intervention strategies against these widespread infectious agents of humans and animals.

The infectious agents we focus on are parasitic worms (helminths). Here, we analyze the immune responses locally, at the site of infection and systemically in response to infections with intestinal roundworms (nematodes). Within the nematodes, we mainly concentrate on the rodent nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus and the pig roundworm Ascaris suum which is also extremely prevalent in humans. The rodent and the pig infection are widespread, natural intestinal infections, whereby Ascaris spp. is characterized by the fact that this nematode migrates extensively through the body and H. polygyrus only resides in the intestine.

Job description :

Within the framework of the Research Training Group (RTG) “One Health Approach to Soil-Transmitted Helminths” we are hiring a postdoc responsible for a longitudinal field study in Bungoma County, Kenya and supporting the RTG PhD projects during their short-time stays in Kenya.

The field study comprises sampling and analyses of stool and blood of school going children in Bungoma County. Parasitological fecal sample analyses in cooperation with KEMRI Global Health in Kisumu. Immunological blood sample analyses in cooperation with the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Kilifi via Flow Cytometry, Fluorospot, ELISPOT, ELISA, antibody serology and Multiplex-qPCR.

The postdoc will reside half a year in Berlin, Germany, and half a year in Kenya. In addition, local travel by car in Kenya (different schools, different authorities, different scientific institutes) is necessary. The postdoc will be principal investigator of the ethical approval. In addition, communication with study subjects, local school staff and headteachers, local social workers and authorities are within the scope of responsibilities. Further, the postdoc will co-supervise two RTG -associated PhD students who will primarily work in Kenya (Nairobi, Kilifi).

Requirements :

• Completed doctorate (Dr. med. vet., Dr. rer. nat., Ph.D. or similar)

Desirable :

Further Information about RTG : (