Biologe (m/w/d)

Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH; Bingen am Rhein; Vor Ort; EUR 21.000 - 27.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Fully funded position

Zusammenfassung

Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH and the International PhD Programme Mainz invite applications for a PhD project focusing on how interleukin-6 influences regulatory T cells during inflammation. The program offers a rich, international scientific community and training in advanced immunology techniques.

The successful candidate will work with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including FACS, mouse models, and sequencing, while developing independent and collaborative research skills in a

Qualifikationen

• Master or equivalent in a life science field.
• Interactive personality with good command of English.
• Two letters of reference required.

Aufgaben

• Investigate how IL-6 shapes regulatory T cells during inflammation.
• Employ mouse models, sequencing approaches, and immunology techniques.
• Train in flow cytometry and molecular biology methods.
• Collaborate in an interdisciplinary, international environment with English as working language.

Kenntnisse

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Ausbildung

Master or equivalent

Tools

FACS

Mouse models

Sequencing

Jobbeschreibung

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.

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.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for controlling immune responses and preventing excessive inflammation. Currently, they are one of the most actively investigated cell types in immunology, with growing interest in their potential for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Their importance was further highlighted by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which recognized discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance mediated by Treg cells.

Tissue inflammation is often associated with increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), which can affect the function and stability of Foxp3⁺ Treg cells. How Treg cells survive and maintain their immunosuppressive function in an inflammatory environment remains poorly understood. Understanding the natural mechanisms that allow Treg cells to adapt to inflammation could help improve Treg cell-based therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

PhD Project: How interleukin-6 shapes regulatory T cells during inflammation

IL-6 signaling is mediated by its biologically relevant receptor, IL-6R. Our preliminary data show that IL-6R is expressed on Treg cell precursors in the thymus and on naïve mature Treg cells, but is downregulated on Treg cells at sites of inflammation. Treg cells isolated from IL-6-deficient mice, which lack IL-6 signaling during development, exhibit poor survival in IL-6-driven inflammatory conditions. These findings suggest that IL-6 signaling during Treg cell development may help establish the properties required for mature Treg cells to survive and function in inflammatory environments.

We hypothesize that Treg cells dynamically adjust their response to IL-6 during development and in peripheral tissues, allowing them to maintain immune suppression during inflammation. This regulation may involve changes in IL-6R expression and associated transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms.

In this project, we will investigate how IL-6 signaling shapes the function and fitness of Treg cells in inflamed tissues. We will use mouse models with cytokine overproduction or cytokine/receptor deficiency, as well as spontaneous and experimentally induced inflammatory models. Treg cell transfer experiments will be used to study their survival, stability, and suppressive function. We will combine multicolor flow cytometry (FACS), mouse immunology models, and sequencing approaches to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control Treg cell fitness during inflammation.

The project is strongly immunological and will provide training in experimental mouse immunology, T-cell biology, flow cytometry, and molecular approaches.

All you need is:

• Master or equivalent
• Interactive personality & good command of English
• 2 letters of reference
• Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a lively international environment, with English as our working language
• Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
• Access to our state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
• Fully funded positions with financing until the completion of...