PhD student Position at PITZ: Radiobiology and Nanotechnology

Organisation/Company: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

Research Field: Physics

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country: Germany

Application Deadline: 30 Dec 2026 - 23:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract: To be defined

Job Status: Other Offer

Starting Date: 24 Jan 2025

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

Z_PITZ-T

Area of research: Promotion

The Photo-Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ, near Berlin) focuses on the development of high brightness electron sources for Free Electron Lasers (FELs) such as FLASH and the European XFEL as well as on applications of high brightness beams like the world’s first high power THz SASE FEL and unique research capabilities for tumor radiotherapy and radiation biology. A new territory of ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) radiation with high bunch charges and bunch lengths in the picosecond time range, single bunch doses and dose rates up to extremely high levels, and flexible choice of bunch timing structure and beam manipulation (e.g. beam size and beam scanning) is available at FLASHlab@PITZ - a multidisciplinary R&D platform under preparation. FLASHlab@PITZ works together with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau (TH Wildau) as partner in close vicinity for the biological resources as well as with the University of Potsdam for nanotechnology. Partly biochemical and biological experiments are being conducted in the laboratories of TH Wildau. We are looking for a PhD student with experimental and theoretical background in radiobiology, cancer therapy and/or nanotechnology, who will join our team for the further development of radiobiological research in cooperation with local and international partners.

About your role:

• Work in one of the leading groups developing and testing photo injectors and their applications (in particular radiation biology, UHDR and FLASH radiation therapy) in an international team of physicists, biologists and engineers.
• Take responsibility in performing the research on biochemical and biological effects of UHDR radiation in combination with nanoparticles for synergistic therapy and imaging.
• Perform experimental work by applying analytical, biochemical and cell-biological methods as well as animal experiments (zebrafish, mouse).
• Develop innovative concepts, techniques and experimental setups for radiation biology experiments at PITZ.
• Supervise and train students.
• Join the accelerator operation especially for the irradiation of biological samples.

About you:

• Excellent university degree in biological, biophysical or biomedical sciences with M.Sc. or equivalent qualification.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: radiobiology, nanotechnology, biophysics, cancer and cell biology.
• Interest in and capability of guiding small teams of students and biological laboratory operation.
• Animal research experience is of advantage.
• Good knowledge of English is required; knowledge of German is of advantage.

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work-life balance, we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal:

Apply now

DESY promotes the professional development of women and therefore strongly encourages women to apply for the position to be filled. In addition, severely handicapped persons with equal aptitude are given preferential consideration. The advertised positions are basically suitable for part-time employment.

You can find further information here: www.desy.de/career/

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Personalabteilung | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 8998-3392

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.