PhD Position within MSCA Doctoral Network MMM, Tübingen, Germany

University of Tübingen; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

An esteemed research institution in Germany is seeking a PhD candidate for an exciting project on individualized antisense oligonucleotide treatments for rare neurological diseases. Candidates will receive extensive training in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques. Excellent communication skills and a Master's degree in relevant fields are essential. The role offers a competitive gross salary of approximately €3267.74 per month and is fully funded by an EU grant.

Leistungen

Challenging interdisciplinary project

Continuous training and mentoring

Mobility allowances across Europe

Qualifikationen

• Experience with development and validation of methods in molecular biology.
• Translational application of RNA therapies is ideal but not mandatory.
• Good communication skills and teamwork capability.

Aufgaben

• Develop and validate patient-specific antisense oligonucleotides for neurological diseases.
• Design and test the efficacy and toxicity of candidate ASOs.
• Collaborate on research projects and report findings.

Kenntnisse

Molecular Biology methods

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Excellent English proficiency

Ausbildung

Master's degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Bioinformatics or related fields

Tools

RNA therapies

Immunoassays

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company University of Tübingen Department Department of Neurology Research Field Medical sciences » Other Biological sciences » Biology Chemistry » Biochemistry Neurosciences » Neurochemistry Neurosciences » Neuroinformatics Neurosciences » Neurobiology Medical sciences » Health sciences Medical sciences » Medicine Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Germany Application Deadline 10 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101120256 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

Offer Description

Modern medicine seeks to personalize diagnosis and treatment to the needs of individual patients. This need is heightened in particular for those individual patients where no treatments are available – and where current standard treatment development paradigms exclude to generate such. The ultimate goal of Medicine made to Measure (MMM) is to go even beyond the latest genetic medicine approaches, implementing a novel paradigm of treatment development: the field of single patient tailored antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatments for patients with nano-rare disease mutations. Specifically, MMM will develop core modules of a novel “out-of-the-box”, but still EMA-advised treatment development path for these patients - from omics-based theranostics, via preclinical target validation to innovative trial methodology and a pioneering ethical framework for individualised genetic therapies. MMM provides a unique opportunity for doctoral candidates to be involved in building - and to receive training - in all core modules needed for tailored ASO treatment in Europe. This new scientific field requires a new generation of open-minded, technology-fluent and applications-oriented experts.

MMM will help educate future drug development and translational experts in adopting and disseminating such a cross-specialty approach. Our idea for this innovative training network is built on our personal experience and understanding of the importance of single patient tailored genetic treatments in the years to come. We propose a consortium of world-leading experts and partners that present with extended experience and relevant know-how in molecular biology, neurology, translational medicine, biochemistry, bioinformatics, philosophy, mathematics, regulatory science and engineering.

We offer an attractive education and training programme that extends from engagements in high-level research projects, through tailored and network-wide training modules to providing competencies and skill sets that help young researchers go beyond the specific MMM research paradigm. Thus, MMM provides an exceptional platform to young, ambitious and talented researchers who like to engage in supporting the concept of single patient tailored treatments.

The Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (Research Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dept. of Neurodegenerative Disease) is inviting applications for a PhD student in preclinical development of individualized antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for rare neurological diseases

The Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), together with the Department of Neurology, forms the Center for Neurology at the University of Tuebingen. It is dedicated to basic and translational research in neurological diseases. Together with the several other highly advanced neuroscience institutes, it is part of the TuebingenNeuroCampus (TNC), here working closely together also with the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and being part of the Gene & RNA Therapy Center (GRTC). Scientists in the more than 100 active research groups of the TNC pursue theoretical, system-neuroscientific, molecular, and clinical research approaches in their entire breadth using a wide range of methods.

The research division „Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases“ of Prof. Synofzik focuses on genomics, pathophysiology and translational biomarker research as well as treatment development in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, with a special focus on genetic ataxias, motor neuron diseases, and dementias. Prof. Synofzik coordinates several large trans-European consortia on translational neurodegeneration in rare movement disorders and serves as PI of several large-scale national and international longitudinal cohort studies. We offer excellent projects and training in neurodegeneration and molecular biology research. A wide range of molecular, protein biochemical and cell biological methods are applied in the lab (e.g. exome/genome/RNAseq sequencing, Sanger sequencing, qPCR, western blotting, ELISAs, and cutting‑edge ultra‑sensitive protein analysis including Simoa, Luminex and Singulex technology). Biomarkers are identified in cell culture models, human and murine blood and/or CSF, and validated in patient cohorts.

The PhD project. You will be integrated in several translational projects as the key person to develop and validate patient‑specific, individualized antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for rare neurological diseases (by showcase of Ataxia Teleangiectasia, AT). You will in silico design a large candidate battery of ASOs, and test the efficacy and toxicity of the most promising candidate ASOs in vitro in patient‑derived cell models. To facilitate the use of in vivo target engagement biomarkers for these ASOs, you will develop targeted protein assays aiming to detect restored ATM protein in patient’s CSF in vivo, and – if successful- transfer these assays onto ultra‑sensitive protein platforms (Simoa, Singulex). You will receive an excellent training in cutting‑edge molecular biology methods and assay development (including ASO design, RNA therapy desing, Simoa, Singulex and Luminex technology, which are all directly available and established on site), collaborate with the Gene & RNA Therapy Center (GRTC) and other biotechnology cores across the Tuebingen research campus, and work collaboratively with our team to report the results and progress at conferences and scientific journals.

Where to apply

E‑mail [e-mail]

Requirements

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

Skills/Qualifications

What we are looking for:

You have a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Genetics, or related life sciences.

Experience with development and validation of methods in molecular biology, ideally (but not mandatory) also with translational application of RNA therapies and/or immunoassays using fluid biospecimens.

You should have good communication skills, attention to detail, and flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively.

Very good proficiency in English (oral and written) is mandatory.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Gross salary (without employer’s social contributions): ca. 3267,74€ per month, plus additional family allowance, if applicable.

We offer a challenging interdisciplinary translational project that is integrated into the EU‑funded Integrated Doctoral Network programme “Medicine Made to Measure” (MMM), which will allow for excellent continuous training and mentoring modules, as well as mobility allowances across top‑labs in Europe working on the same topic.Moreover, this project will be integrated also with other major national and European research consortia at the interface of genomics and translational medicine, well‑equipped laboratories with top‑notch facilities, excellent supervision in a highly collaborative international environment and affiliation with the Graduate Training Center of Neuroscience. The position is available immediately. Salary will be determined according to EU MSCA salary regulations. Appointment is full time and will be initially for 22 months. We give priority to severely disabled applicants with essentially equal qualifications.

Eligibility criteria

Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.

Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment.

Selection process

Application: If you are interested in this project, please send your full application within one PDF file. This should include:

Cover letter outlining (i) how you meet the requirements for the position, (ii) relevant details of your past research projects, and (iii) an explanation of how your previous experience lends itself to this PhD research project. (~750-1000 words).

Names and email addresses of two professional references (e.g., current or previous research advisors).

Transcripts, your master’s thesis and/or publications.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Tübingen, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) Country Germany Geofield