PhD position Cardiac Optogenetics

University Medical Center Göttingen; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 16,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured PhD training

Interdisciplinary environment

Mentoring by leading scientists

Job summary

University Medical Center Göttingen is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to study cardiac electrophysiology, including optogenetics and photopharmacology, to better understand arrhythmias and develop new treatment approaches.

The candidate will join the FOR5807 consortium and the RTG2824 program to explore channelrhodopsins and optoGPCRs, collaborating with partners to advance photopharmacological strategies for terminating arrhythmias.

Qualifications

• Master of Science or equivalent in Life Sciences.
• Independent, responsible, flexible working style and ability to work in an international team.
• Interested in basic cardiovascular research, electrophysiology and optogenetics.

Responsibilities

• Establish and characterize new approaches in cardiac optogenetics.
• Design, clone, and test receptor chimeras and optogenetic constructs in HEK cells and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.
• Learn patch clamp, Ca2+ imaging and multi-electrode measurements.
• Functional readout of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and isometric force measurements of ventricular slices from mice and humans.
• Work within the working group vegetative optogenetics at the Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology.

Skills

MSc Life Sciences

International teamwork

Cardiovascular research interest

Education

Master degree or equivalent in Life Sciences

Job description

Biological sciences » Biological engineering

Medical sciences » Health sciences

Medical sciences » Medicine

Organisation/Company University Medical Center Göttingen Department Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Medical sciences » Health sciences Medical sciences » Medicine Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 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

Offer Description

We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated PhD student interested in cardiac electrophysiology, including optogenetics and photopharmacology, to understand cardiac arrhythmia better and develop new approaches to treat them. The successful applicant can be assigned to the newly funded FOR5807 consortium to study “Dynamic integration of GPCR signaling to control organ function and animal behavior” and the RTG2824 “Heart & Brain diseases: integrative research across organs”. He/she/it will explore new channelrhodopsins and optoGPCRs developed by us and collaboration partners as well as test new photopharmacological approaches with the aim of further developing cardiac arrhythmia termination.

Research Field Biological sciences » Laboratory animal science Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Pharmacological sciences » Pharmacy Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Medical sciences » Health sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Completed a Master of Science or equivalent in a Life Sciences subject (molecular medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, …)
• Independent, responsible, flexible working style and ability to work in an international team
• Interested in basic cardiovascular research, electrophysiology and optogenetics

Specific Requirements

• Establish and characterize new approaches in cardiac optogenetics
• Design, clone, and test receptor chimeras and optogenetic constructs in HEK cells and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
• Learn patch clamp, Ca2+ imaging and multi-electrode measurements
• Functional readout of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and isometric force measurements of ventricular slices from mice and humans
• Work within the working group vegetative optogenetics at the Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Additional Information

• Structured PhD training within GAUSS/GGNB with additional and optional training in the Hertha Sponer College and EKFZ academy for translation
• A stimulating intellectual environment with innovative translational research projects within the interdisciplinary research areas
• Excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
• Mentoring by renowned scientists of the Göttingen Campus and the FOR5807
• A wide range of interesting benefits as a UMG employee (including in-house daycare center, child vacation care, attractive infrastructure; health and sports promoted by excellent company health management)
• Location in a beautiful and historic German university town steeped in tradition, with a campus that includes the University of Göttingen, Max Planck Institutes, German Primate Centre and other local research institutions

Selection process

Interviews

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Country Germany State/Province Lower Saxony City Göttingen Postal Code 37077 Street Humboldtallee 23 Geofield