PhD candidate (f/m/d)

Leibniz-Institut f.Analytische Wissenschaften -ISAS- e.V.; Dortmund; On-site; EUR 18,972 - 27,900; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working times

Mobile working

Social benefits

Family-friendly infrastructure

Job summary

ISAS invites applications for a PhD candidate position within the Biofluorescence Research Group. The project combines multi-omics profiling with computational modeling to predict patient-specific responses in melanoma therapy, collaborating with University Hospital Essen and University of Duisburg-Essen.

You will work on neutrophil function, signaling pathways, and data interpretation, in a part-time appointment (65%) starting Oct 1, 2026, with training and support in an international,

Qualifications

• Completed diploma or master's in molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, cell biology, bioinformatics, translational medicine or related disciplines.
• Experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques, ideally with immune cell assays (neutrophils or myeloid cells) is an advantage.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Experimental setup and execution of neutrophil functional profiling in melanoma context.
• Perform functional assays: migration, phagocytosis, ROS production.
• Standardize neutrophil assays for primary human samples.
• Contribute to data processing, analysis, and visualization with computational partners.

Skills

English proficiency

Independent work

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

MSc/Diploma in bioscience or related

Tools

Flow cytometry

Microscopy

Proteomics

Job description

PhD candidate (f/m/d)

Location: Dortmund

The Leibniz‑Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS - e. V. develops efficient analytical methods for health research. Thus, it contributes to the improvement of the prevention, early diagnosis, and therapy of diseases like cardiovascular diseases or cancer. Overall, the institute strives to advance precision medicine by combining knowledge from different fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, medicine, pharmacology, and physics. ISAS is a member of the Leibniz Association and is publicly funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and its federal states.

We invite applications for the Research Group Biofluorescence: PhD candidate (f/m/d)

This project, funded by the DFG as part of CRC 1752, "DYNAMO: Immediate Tumor Dynamics in Melanoma Therapy" seeks to combine high‑resolution multi‑omics profiling, advanced computational modeling, and clinically aligned biomarker stratification, in order to generate actionable, patient‑specific predictions and resistance‑targeting interventions in melanoma therapy. You will be responsible for finding out the role of neutrophils for the early development of therapy resistance in human melanoma. The project is being carried out in collaboration with University Hospital Essen and the University of Duisburg‑Essen.

You will be responsible for

• Experimental setup and execution of neutrophil functional profiling in the context of melanoma immune regulation and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) response
• Functional assays of neutrophils including migration, phagocytosis, and ROS production
• Optimization and standardization of neutrophil functional assays for primary human samples
• Few‑cell proteomics for deep molecular characterization of neutrophil subsets
• Multicolor flow cytometry of PBMCs and immune cell populations
• Live‑cell imaging and advanced microscopy for dynamic immune cell behavior analysis
• Planning and execution of stimulation and inhibition experiments to dissect signaling pathways regulating neutrophil function in the melanoma context
• Data processing, analysis, interpretation, and visualization of experimental results in collaboration with computational partners

Your profile

• Completed diploma or master’s degree in molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, cell biology, bioinformatics, translational medicine or related disciplines
• Experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques, ideally with hands‑on experience with functional immune cell assays (preferably with neutrophils or myeloid cells) is an advantage
• Strong interest in melanoma biology, tumor immunology, immune checkpoint therapy, translational cancer research, and tumor‑immune interactions
• Experience with cell culture, flow cytometry, microscopy, proteomics workflows or high‑dimensional immune profiling approaches is desirable
• Experience with bioinformatics or biostatistics is beneficial but not required
• Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams, with strong organizational skills and analytical thinking
• High level of self‑motivation, scientific curiosity, reliability, creativity, and team‑oriented personality with enthusiasm to work in a collaborative research environment
• Fluent in spoken and written English

We offer

• A clear research topic as well as multifold training and support for PhD students in framework of ISAS and the Leibniz association
• Opportunities for scientific training and development in an international environment and an excellent working atmosphere in a very dynamic and professional team
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art technologies including few‑cell proteomics, high‑dimensional flow cytometry, and advanced microscopy platforms
• Integration into an interdisciplinary, internationally visible, translation‑oriented cancer immunology research network
• The opportunity to present your data on international conferences and participate in workshops
• A wide range of opportunities for further training and qualifications
• Flexible working times, mobile working and attractive social benefits
• Family‑friendly infrastructure and support from a family service

Non‑residents who apply for this job will receive help from the institute to find accommodation and to handle authorities. Applications from disabled applicants are welcome. ISAS supports the principle of equal opportunity for all employees and therefore particularly encourages women to apply.

The part‑time position (65 %) starts on October 1 2026, and is offered until June 30 2030. The salary will be according to the German TV‑L and falls within the pay group 13. The time limitation of the contract is based on the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG).

ISAS collects and processes the personal data of its applicants in accordance with European and German legal regulations. Further information on data protection and the processing of personal data can be found at: https://www.isas.de/en/datenschutz .

The closing date for applications is August 14 2026. Please apply via our applicant portal. If you have any questions (reference number 411_2026), feel free to contact the Human Resources team ([e-mail]). Further information about the institute can be found at: https://www.isas.de/en .