Research Associate / PhD Schneider Lab

The University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and the Medical Faculty together form the Dresden University Medicine. It is committed to excellence in high-performance medicine, medical research and teaching, and healthcare for patients of the entire region. Together for the top medicine of tomorrow – become part of Dresden University Medicine. Research Associate (m/f/d) / PhD in the Schneider Lab at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden The position is to be filled from January 1, 2027, in part-time employment with 26 weekly hours for 3 years, fixed-term. Remuneration is according to the classification regulations of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TV-L) and, provided personal requirements are met, in salary group E13. The Schneider Lab investigates how communication between organs as well as neuronal, immunological, and metabolic regulatory circuits influence chronic liver diseases and liver cancer. The research lies at the intersection of hepatology, neurobiology, immunology, and systems medicine. It combines state-of-the-art experimental disease models with spatial and single-cell technologies, advanced imaging techniques, molecular profiling, and translational studies based on well-characterized patient cohorts and human sample material. The doctoral position is embedded in the ERC Starting Grant project LIVER-CIRCUITS, which explores the regulation of the development, progression, and cellular organization of liver diseases by the nervous system. A particular focus is on understanding the interactions of neuronal signals with immune, stromal, and epithelial cells in the liver microenvironment and their influence on tissue regeneration and disease progression. The planned doctoral project uses complementary genetic, pharmacological, and functional approaches to map and manipulate liver-associated neural circuits, define their cellular and molecular downstream effects, and determine their relevance for human diseases. Experimental models are integrated with technologies such as spatial transcriptomics, single-cell profiling, advanced microscopy, and analysis of human tissue samples. The overarching goal is the identification of previously unknown neural circuits in the liver microenvironment.

• Conducting an independent doctoral project to investigate neuronal and neuro-immunological mechanisms in chronic liver diseases and liver cancer within the ERC Starting Grant project 'LIVER-CIRCUITS'
• Investigating how liver-associated neural circuits regulate the state of immune, stromal, and epithelial cells, tissue remodeling processes, and disease progression
• Mapping and functional manipulation of neuronal signaling pathways using complementary genetic, pharmacological, and experimental approaches
• Planning, conducting, documenting, and evaluating experiments using relevant cellular and experimental disease models
• Processing and analysis of biological samples from experimental models and human cohorts
• Application of molecular and cell biology methods, such as PCR, gene expression analysis, immunoblotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, histology, and microbiological procedures
• Participation in microbiome, transcriptome, metabolome, and other multi-omics analyses in collaboration with experienced postdocs
• Performing statistical analyses and integration of experimental and clinical datasets
• Presentation of research results at internal meetings and scientific conferences
• Writing scientific manuscripts and contributing to research reports and grant application documents
• Active participation in scientific activities of the Schneider Lab, CRTD, and various research networks
• Support in supervising students and taking on organizational tasks within the lab

• A very good university degree (e.g., Master or equivalent) in Biology, Molecular Medicine, Biomedicine, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, Nutritional Sciences, or a related field
• Strong interest in microbiome research, chronic liver diseases, neuroimmunology, mucosal immunology, and inter-organ communication
• Experience in molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, or with experimental disease models
• Prior knowledge in microbiome analyses, sequencing-based methods, bioinformatics, working with mouse models (FELASA certificate), or analysis of human biological samples is an advantage but not a requirement
• Willingness to work with experimental mouse models and human biological samples
• Basic knowledge of statistical data analysis; experience with R, Python, or comparable software is an advantage
• High motivation, scientific curiosity, reliability, and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing constructively to an interdisciplinary and cooperative research environment
• Very good English skills, both written and spoken; German skills are an advantage but not mandatory
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills