Post Doc / Leader (m/f/d) Junior Research Group - Center for Infection Research

Post Doc / Leader (m/f/d) Junior Research Group for "Translation of evolutionary principles into antimicrobial treatment strategies” at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)

Institute of Medical Microbiology (Director: Prof. Dr. med. Jan Rupp)

Short project description

The Junior Research Group (JRG) on the "Translation of evolutionary principles into antimicrobial treatment strategies” will develop diagnostic tools and therapeutic recommendations to integrate key evolutionary principles into novel strategies combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). More specifically, this JRG will take advantage of the latest findings in evolutionary biology on AMR emergence and spread, as well as antimicrobial resilience in order to guide a clinical study on urinary tract infections (UTIs). The overall idea is to optimize single or combined treatment regiments against both susceptible and also resistant bacteria, considering not only the ultimate antimicrobial efficacy of a given antibiotic to the infectious pathogen, but incorporating further information on the functional impact the substance will have e.g. on bacterial fitness, life-history trade-offs, growth dynamics, resistance resilience, etc.

The JRG will be embedded in the Thematic Translational Unit (TTU) Healthcare- associated infections (HAI) of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and directly contributes to achieving the overarching goals of combating AMR and optimizing antibacterial treatment strategies. Strong links within the DZIF network provide optimal conditions for developing the subject area into a translational therapeutic approach in humans.

Would you like to try a new challenge? Then join our team from 01.01.2026, initially for a limited period of 5 years.

What we offer:

• Placement in pay group E13 TV-L, if you fulfil the requirements of the collective agreement
• Full-time employment, currently 38.5 hours per week. Part-time employment may be possible within the framework of certain working time models.
• A modern scientific infrastructure as the basis for efficient scientific work and personal development
• You can find more exciting benefits of the UKSH here: Benefits (uksh.de)

Your role:

• PhD position directly assigned to the project that will filled by the JRG leader
• Interdisciplinary team of senior researchers from different disciplines and direct integration in projects funded by the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
• Continuous development of novel experimental tissue culture/ organoid models, and up-to-date multi-omics techniques

Your qualifications:

• Having an integrative personality with an enthusiasm for active participation in research
• PhD degree in the field of life sciences with a particular research experience in infection and/or cell biology, immunology, biochemistry and/or bacterial genetics
• Successful track record documented by publications and if already available 3rd party funding
• Spontaneity and a high level of comprehension for working on new tasks at short notice in an interdisciplinary research environment
• Interest to develop leadership skills and good communication skills in English

We look forward to receiving your application by 10.09.2025, quoting our job advertisement number 26993.

Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 23538

Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 23538