Doctoral Candidate

vor 1 Woche

Jena, Thüringen, Deutschland Universitätsklinikum Jena Vollzeit 45.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

The
Department of Neurology
at
Jena University Hospital
offers a PhD position for a doctoral candidate (DC)/MSCA fellow for the project:
Transcriptional and Protein Profiling of Gut Microbiome Bacteria-Derived Extracellular Vesicles (BEV)
. The position is part of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network
MenoBrain
"Brain Health in Menopausal Women" with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in February 2026.

Objective of the project:
During menopause, hormonal changes may alter communication along the gut–brain axis, potentially affecting memory and cognition. One possible mediator of this communication are
bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs)
– tiny packages released by gut bacteria that can travel through the body and reach the brain, carrying RNA, proteins and metabolites. This project will investigate whether BEVs differ between postmenopausal women with high and low cognitive performance, and how their
molecular composition
can be linked to specific bacterial species and brain-related pathways.
Follow-up studies in mouse models and cell culture will be applied to test specific mechanisms of BEV–brain interaction.

Methods:

  • Isolation
    : BEVs will be purified from stool samples by ultracentrifugation.
  • Molecular profiling
    : RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry will characterize transcriptomic and proteomic content.
  • Models
    : Cell culture and mouse studies will test selected BEV–brain pathways.
  • Data analysis
    : Bioinformatics and statistical tools will integrate molecular data with existing clinical and lifestyle information.

Requirements for the applicant:
We expect a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Health and/or Life Sciences, Molecular Medicine, or related fields. Required methodological skills include a background in molecular biology. Basic knowledge in protein analysis, bioinformatics, and cell culture is desirable. Experience with experimental models and a FELASA certificate (animal experimentation) would be an advantage. Very good English skills are required.

MSCA eligibility (must-have):
At the time of recruitment, candidates must be in the first four years of their research career, must not hold a doctoral degree, and must not have resided in Germany or carried out their main activity (work or study) there for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the recruitment date.

What we offer:
We offer an international research environment with access to modern laboratories, state-of-the-art technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a European Doctoral Network. The PhD student will benefit from structured training, international secondments, and transferable skills courses.

Selection process:
Applications (
single PDF
) should include a motivation letter, CV (with publications if available), transcripts and degree certificates (with grades), and contact details of two referees. Please indicate the DC position applied for and send documents to Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For more information concerning the research project please contact
Dr. Christiane Frahm
or
Dr. Christian Schmeer

Application deadline:

30 November 2025

  • Doctoral Researcher

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Thüringen, Deutschland Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute Vollzeit 40.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

    At theLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), we investigate the pathobiology of microorganisms and develop new natural product-based active compounds for the treatment of infectious diseases. As part of the structured doctoral programInternational Leibniz Research School ILRS 2.0, we invite talented candidates to...

  • Doctoral Researcher

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Thüringen, Deutschland Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute Vollzeit 45.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

    Job AdvertisementHKI-52/2025At theLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology(Leibniz-HKI), we research the pathobiology of microorganisms and develop new natural product-based active substances for the treatment of infectious diseases. Thejunior research group (Epi-)Genetic Regulation of Fungal Virulenceinvites talented and highly...

  • Doctoral Researcher

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Deutschland Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e. V. – Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI) Vollzeit 40.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

    for four years.Project title: Investigation of RNA modification by natural products across speciesResearch Area:Fungi are a growing threat to our society, currently causing over a billion human infections and 3.75 million deaths annually ). Rising rates of resistance are compounding treatment and invalidating our best antifungals, while rising temperatures...

  • Doctoral Researcher

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit 43.500 € - 67.500 € pro Jahr

    Job advertisementVacancy ID: 280/2025Closing date: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which...

  • Doctoral Researcher

    Vor 3 Tagen

    Jena, Deutschland Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e. V. – Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI) Vollzeit

    The positions are initially limited to three years.Research Area:Members of the genus Fusarium are some of the few trans-kingdom fungal pathogens, being able to infect plants, and at the same time, cause severe superficial and invasive infections in humans. Recently, Fusarium species were listed in the high priority group of the World Health Organization's...

  • Research Assistant in the field of International Organizations

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit 45.000 € - 55.000 € pro Jahr

    Job advertisementVacancy ID: 255/2025Closing date: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which...

  • Doktorand:in

    vor 1 Woche

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit

    The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions...

  • Research Assistant

    vor 2 Wochen

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit 40.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

    Job advertisementVacancy ID: 304/2025Closing date: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which...

  • Research Assistant Lignin

    vor 2 Wochen

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit 45.000 € - 60.000 € pro Jahr

    Job advertisementVacancy ID: 296/2025Closing date: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which...

  • Wissenschaftliche:r Mitarbeiter:in

    Vor 4 Tagen

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit

    The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions...

  • Scientific researcher

    Vor 5 Tagen

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit 50.000 € - 80.000 € pro Jahr

    Job advertisementVacancy ID: 311/2025Closing date: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which...

  • Doktorandenstelle (65 %)Kombination von Feldbeobachtungen mit Fernerkundungsdaten in der Pflanzenphänologieforschung

    Vor 4 Tagen

    Jena, Deutschland Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Vollzeit

    The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions...