PhD Positions: Characterization of critical metabolic pathways T-cell subsets during agin

Organisation/Company International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz Department Institute of Molecular Biology Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 1 Apr 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jul 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Thinking of doing your PhD in the Life Sciences? The International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz is offering talented scientists the chance to work on cutting edge research projects within the open call on “Molecular Biomedicine & Ageing”. As an IPP PhD student, you will join a community of exceptional scientists working on diverse topics ranging from how organisms age or how our DNA is repaired, to how epigenetics regulates cellular identity or neural memory.

Activities and responsibilities

The research group of Tim Sparwasser offers the following PhD project (2 positions):

T-cell aging is associated with an imbalance in naïve and memory T-cell subsets, as well as an accumulation of senescent and exhausted T-cells. These changes contribute to increased vulnerability to infections, reduced vaccine efficacy, and heightened risk of autoimmune diseases in the elderly. Metabolic reprogramming plays a crucial role in controlling T-cell function, yet the specific metabolic pathways that govern T-cell aging remain poorly understood.

Previous research suggests that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and other key metabolic processes influence T-cell fate decisions. Targeting these pathways could provide novel strategies to mitigate immune aging and enhance immune responses in older individuals.

PhD project:
Characterization of critical metabolic pathways for T-cell subsets during aging

Two PhD positions are available to investigate the metabolic mechanisms underlying T-cell aging. T-cell aging is characterized by an imbalance in naïve and memory T-cell subsets and an accumulation of senescent and exhausted T-cells, contributing to increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. While metabolic processes play a crucial role in T-cell function, a comprehensive understanding of how metabolism regulates T-cell aging remains elusive.

This project will leverage cutting‑edge technologies to identify metabolic pathways that support naïve T-cell maintenance and drive the differentiation of memory, senescent, and exhausted T-cells with age.

• Identifying key metabolic pathways involved in T-cell aging using advanced genetic models that allow for parallel CRISPR perturbation of multiple metabolic genes at the single-cell level.
• Determining the impact of metabolic gene perturbation on T-cell subsets at different ages by employing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and gRNA‑capturing techniques.
• Assessing metabolic pathways that modulate aged T-cell function using inducible genetic systems in aged mice following antigenic challenge with model antigens and adjuvant vaccination.

The findings will reveal how metabolic reprogramming can potentially mitigate T-cell immunoaging and enhance immune function in the elderly.

For these PhD positions experience in both bioinformatics and immunology, particularly T-cell biology, is desirable. Additionally, familiarity with molecular biology techniques (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry) is advantageous.

These projects provide an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in immunometabolism, aging research, and cutting‑edge genomic techniques. The candidates will gain experience with advanced technologies such as scRNA-seq, CRISPR perturbation screening, and high-throughput immunological assays. The research is expected to yield high-impact publications and provide networking opportunities through international collaborations and conference presentations. These PhD positions will prepare the candidates for a successful academic career in immunology and metabolic research.

If you are interested in…