PhD Student (m/f/div)

Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ); Berlin; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

TVöD-Bund E13 65%

Job summary

Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ) in Berlin sucht einen PhD-Studenten (m/f/div) im Bereich Immunologie/Biomedizin zur Arbeit an der nächsten Generation präziser Zelltherapien. Sie nutzen multi-omics-Daten, um Proteindesign und gentherapeutische Ansätze zu steuern und richten sich auf klinische Translation aus.

Die Position ist der Vander Mause Lab, Experimental Cell Therapy, zugeordnet und Teil des Systems Rheumatology-Programms am DRFZ.

Qualifications

• MD or MSc in immunology, cell biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, or related field.
• Experience in cell culture (primary T cells preferred) and molecular biology.
• Experience with viral production and protein expression/purification.
• Bioinformatics and sequencing experience is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and enthusiasm for science.

Responsibilities

• Durchführung multi-omics-gestützter Analysen zur Anleitung von Proteindesign und genetischer Engineered-Ansätze.
• Entwicklung und Charakterisierung präziser Zelltherapien für die klinische Translation.
• Zusammenarbeit im Vander Mause Lab im Bereich Experimental Cell Therapy und im Systems Rheumatology Programm.
• Teilnahme am DRFZ-Graduate-Programm und an relevanten Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen.

Skills

Immunology background

Cell culture experience

Bioinformatics

Organization skills

Learning attitude

Education

MD or MSc in immunology/biology/biochemistry or related field

Tools

Molecular biology techniques

Viral production

Protein expression & purification

Sequencing

Job description

TVöD-Bund E13 65%, from 01 November 2026, 3-year initial term, with possibility of extension, Open to EU and non‑EU candidates

The Vander Mause Lab, Experimental Cell Therapy, is seeking a PhD student (m/f/div) with a background in cell therapy or immunology. The candidate will use comprehensive multi‑omics data to guide state‑of‑the‑art methods in protein design and genetic engineering to develop and characterize the next generation of precision cell therapies for clinical translation.

The Experimental Cell Therapy lab is part of the Systems Rheumatology program area at the DRFZ in Berlin and is a joint research group with the Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) in Regensburg, Germany. This PhD position will be integrated into the doctoral environment at the DRFZ in Berlin, which has its own graduate program and access to partner programs. The program brings together like‑minded PhD students from across Berlin and offers a variety of graduate training programs and events.

The German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, was founded in 1988 and is unique in Germany in its focus on rheumatic diseases. Today, the DRFZ ranks among the world’s leading institutes in the fields of immunology, experimental rheumatology and the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases. The unique interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, medicine, sociology, and statistics is a key factor in this. The research focuses on the causes, progression, and management of rheumatic diseases.

Requirements

• M.D and/or MSc in immunology, cell biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, or similar.
• Experience preferred in cell culture (primary T cell culture preferred), molecular biology, viral production, and protein expression, purification, and characterization techniques.
• Bioinformatics and sequencing experience is a plus.
• Organizational skills, willingness to learn, and enthusiasm for science.

We offer

• A salary according to the German salary scale TVöD-Bund E13, 65 %.
• Integration into a dynamic and exciting research environment focused on impactful science, with access to state‑of‑the‑art technologies and continuous training opportunities.
• Integration in DRFZ´s graduate program, which is run in cooperation with Berlin universities.

Your application should include (in one combined pdf):

• Cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications
• Summary of your previous work experience (max. 1 page)

The DRFZ is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. Applications from underrepresented race, ethnicity, gender identity, physical ability, and nationality groups, who meet the recruitment requirements, are highly encouraged.

German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ)
An Institute of the Leibniz Association
Charitéplatz 1
10117 Berlin