2 PhD Positions (f/m/d) - Organoid Systems and Biointerfaces

The Chair of Organoid Systems and Biointerfaces, led by Prof. Dr. Ana Mora-Boza at the School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), is seeking to recruit two PhD candidates to join an interdisciplinary research program. The positions will focus on the use of synthetic biomaterials and human organoid-based microphysiological systems to investigate sex differences in intestinal barrier biology and chronic inflammatory diseases. These positions are part of the NanoMatFutur project SYMPHOGUT (€1.93 million project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF), which aims to develop personalized models of inflammatory bowel disease and evaluate the role of sex hormones in intestinal inflammation by integrating cell-instructive biomaterials, microfluidics, organoid systems, and stem cell biology.

PhD Position 1 - Cellular Biology & Organoids

Your mission:

• Establish and maintain human stem cell-derived intestinal organoid systems from diverse biological sources.
• Investigate organoid responses to sex hormones and inflammatory cues to uncover mechanisms underlying intestinal barrier regulation using molecular biology techniques and flow cytometry.
• Perform transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to characterize molecular pathways driving sex-specific responses.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Biology, or related fields (minimum 300 ECTS).
• Experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques (stem cell culture experience is desirable)
• Strong motivation, resilience, scientific curiosity, and commitment to scientific excellence.
• We expect the ability to work independently, excellent organization, communication the ability to interact and cooperate within a multicultural scientific environment.

PhD Position 2 - Polymer Chemistry and Microfluidics

Your mission:
• Develop synthetic mucin-like hydrogel systems to mimic key features of the intestinal microenvironment.
• Perform physicochemical characterization of hydrogel-based biomaterials.
•Evaluate cytocompatibility and integrate the materials into perfusable microfluidic platforms for advanced in vitro models.
• Establish dynamic cell culture platforms to evaluate cytocompatibility and model intestinal barrier function under physiologically relevant flow conditions.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Biomaterials, or related field (minimum 300 ECTS).
• Experience in polymer chemistry and functionalization, hydrogel fabrication, and characterization techniques.
• Experience in microfluidics is a plus.
• Strong motivation, resilience, scientific curiosity, and commitment to scientific excellence.
• We expect the ability to work independently, excellent organization, communication the ability to interact and cooperate within a multicultural scientific environment.

Position Details
• Contract: TV-L E13 (65%)
• Duration: 3 years
• Starting date: October 2026

Application: Please submit all documents combined into a single PDF (CV, motivation letter indicating position of interest, transcripts, and contact details of two referees) to ana.mora-boza@tum.de .

Deadline: 31 March 2026 (Due to the high expected number of applications, individual feedback cannot be provided)

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of Europe’s leading research universities, renowned for pioneering discoveries and innovative approaches in science, engineering, and life sciences. With a vibrant international community and strong collaborations across academia and industry, TUM offers an inspiring environment for ambitious researchers to advance knowledge and tackle global challenges.

Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Life Sciences, Chair of Organoid Systems and Biointerfaces