PhD Student – HIV Pathogenesis and Human Lymphoid Models (m/f/d)

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg; Heidelberg; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Heidelberg University Hospital seeks a highly motivated researcher to join the Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID). You will develop human lymphoid organ models and apply tissue engineering to study HIV pathogenesis and immune responses.

You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, publish in international journals, and contribute to the SynthImmune project network. Excellent English communication is required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in immunology or related field.
• Solid background in immunology and infection biology.
• Experience with primary human immune cell culture or organoid/tissue models is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize human lymphoid organ culture models, including tonsil explants and aggregate cultures.
• Establish next-generation ex vivo lymphoid models with improved longevity and immune competence for HIV studies.
• Investigate viral persistence and HIV latency in tissue-based models.
• Study mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis factor Nef and its impact on host immunity.
• Examine anti-HIV activity of neutrophils and their role in antiviral responses.
• Evaluate immune responses to novel vaccines within the SynthImmune cluster.
• Analyze data, contribute to publications, and collaborate within the project network.

Skills

Immunology

Infection biology

Translational research

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Immunology, Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Life Sciences, or a related field

Tools

Flow cytometry

Job description

Join one of Germany's leading research environments for infection biology and immunology. At the Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID), University Hospital Heidelberg, you will work at the interface of virology, immunology, tissue engineering, and microfluidics. As part of the Excellence Cluster SynthImmune and a DFG-funded research project, you will contribute to the development of innovative human lymphoid organ models to investigate HIV pathogenesis and immune responses.

You will benefit from state-of-the art research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellent opportunities for scientific and professional development.

Your Tasks

• You will develop and optimize human lymphoid organ culture models, including tonsil explants and aggregate cultures, to investigate adaptive immune responses and HIV-1 pathogenesis
• Using tissue engineering and microfluidic approaches, you will establish next-generation ex vivo lymphoid models with improved longevity, immune competence, and suitability for long-term HIV infection studies
• Your work will focus on enabling the investigation of viral persistence and the establishment of HIV latency in human tissue-based model systems
• You will apply these models to study the mechanisms of action of the HIV pathogenesis factor Nef and its impact on host immune functions
• In collaboration with interdisciplinary research teams, you will examine the anti-HIV activity of neutrophils and their role in antiviral immune responses
• Furthermore, you will evaluate de novo immune responses to novel vaccine candidates developed within the Excellence Cluster SynthImmune
• You will analyze and present scientific data, contribute to publications in international journals, and actively participate in collaborative research activities within the project network

Your Profile

• Master's degree in Immunology, Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Life Sciences, or a related field
• Solid background in immunology and a strong interest in infection biology and translational research
• Experience with primary human immune cell culture and/or organoid or tissue-based model systems is an advantage
• Practical expertise in flow cytometry is desirable
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken
• Genuine scientific curiosity and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research
• A collaborative, proactive, and well-organized working style rounds off your profile

About us

For further information, please contact Kathrin Bajak by phone at [phone] or via email.

Advance innovative HIV research with us!