Doctoral Scholarship Position; PhD, f​/m​/d

Overview

The Institute for Lung Health (ILH) and Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI) at Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany combines state‑of‑the‑art basic science and preclinical research on lung and heart diseases. In a collaborative effort between the research groups of Prof. Dr. Elie El Agha and Dr. Stefan Hadzic, we investigate adult lung repair through modulation of developmentally relevant mechanisms. We invite talented and motivated candidates to apply.

The successful candidate will investigate developmental pathways during lung injury and repair across several well‑characterised preclinical models of chronic adult lung disease to determine whether modulating these mechanisms can initiate structural repair and reverse pathology. The research will involve comprehensive molecular, cellular, physiological, and histological analyses to evaluate parenchymal and vascular structures and their interconnectivity. The scholar will employ lineage tracing to track cell trajectories during pathogenesis, investigate genetic and epigenetic signatures, conduct advanced preclinical imaging, and validate findings using human biobank materials.

Academically, the doctoral researcher is expected to independently evaluate research data, guide the project's scientific direction, and prepare abstracts and manuscripts for publication. The selected candidate will enroll in the competitive Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung (MBML) graduate programme and carry out experimental work in close collaboration with the Collaborative Research Center 1213 (CRC
1213) and the Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), both of which are integrated into the German Center for Lung Research (DZL).

We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate with a master’s degree or equivalent in the life sciences, or a degree in human or veterinary medicine. Applicants with prior knowledge and hands‑on experience of the outlined scientific methodologies are highly preferred. A strong sense of responsibility, self‑motivation, flexibility, and excellent communication skills for collaborating with colleagues and scientists are essential.

In return, we offer an extensive range of advanced training in a top‑level international research environment, where the laboratory’s working language is English. The position is available immediately and is initially limited to a 3‑year term.