Master's Thesis on Extracellular Vesicles and High-Throughput In Vitro Testing

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, we bring together the expertise of our employees to drive medical progress. Our focus is on cell and gene therapy, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, molecular and immune diagnostics, and other innovative topics. We are the professional home for scientists, engineers, laboratory technicians, and administrative staff who work together in the service of health.

Would you like to put your theoretical knowledge from your studies into practice and gain exciting insights into cutting-edge interdisciplinary research? Then you’ve come to the right place

For our MicroDiagnostics research group at our Leipzig site, we are looking for student support to complete a Master’s thesis, starting as soon as possible. The team develops innovative in vitro and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) systems for the preclinical investigation of new active substances and therapies. Another key focus is the research of extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Be part of change

As part of your Master’s thesis, you will work on developing a platform to investigate the therapeutic potential of EVs. Using suitable cell models, you will analyze their biological and therapeutic effects. A particular focus will be placed on developing quantitative assays that enable the effects of different EV preparations to be compared efficiently and reproducibly.
You can look forward to these exciting tasks:

• Cultivation of human cells
• Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles from cell culture supernatants
• Working with light and fluorescence microscopy as well as quantitative image analysis
• Conducting molecular biological analyses to characterize cellular responses

What you contribute

• Enrollment as a student in life sciences, biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, or a related field
• Initial experience in cell culture techniques and, ideally, in microscopy, image analysis, and/or working with extracellular vesicles
• Interest in innovative in vitro models and the preclinical development of new therapies
• Good command of English, as English is partly used as the working language in the laboratory
• You approach new challenges with curiosity and a solution-oriented mindset, work independently and carefully, and enjoy working as part of a team
• Please include a brief cover letter with your application explaining why you are interested in this Master's thesis topic.

What we offer

• Through our close collaboration with industry, we combine the creative freedom of research with real-world value creation – while also making a meaningful contribution to society. Through your work, you will help shape the medicine of tomorrow and gain exciting insights into Europe’s leading organization for application-oriented research.
• You will be part of an interdisciplinary and international team that values collaboration on an equal footing and gives you the opportunity to contribute your own ideas. You will also gain valuable preparation for future research positions by applying a wide range of relevant scientific techniques and developing your skills in independently planning experimental work.
• Cutting-edge research requires cutting-edge facilities: With almost 8,000 m² of laboratory space in total, we offer everything a researcher could wish for. You can look forward to state-of-the-art laboratories with direct access to cell biology, microscopy, and analytical facilities.
• Flexible working hours that fit around your studies allow you to manage your time independently.

Please note: We are unable to offer financial compensation for the work on your thesis; however, you can expect an exciting research topic and close academic supervision.

We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disabilit