PhD student (f/m/d)

M3 Research Center, Laboratory Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, index number 7616

Part-time:
65 %

Limited:
3-4 years 1

Start of work:
as soon as possible

Application deadline:
22.06.2026

TV-L
i.d.R. E13 2

Tasks

The applicant will focus on the project “DangerHep”

• Dynamic control of stage transitions in chronic liver disease through cell death and alarm signals (dangerhep) and how danger signals control an immunological “point of no return” in the transition from fatty liver to liver cancer
• Targeted modulation of the proto-oncogenic ER stress / ATF6 axis in parenchymal and immune cells in liver cancer

Profile

• The applicants should be highly motivated, committed to pursue a PhD in a friendly and international team
• An excellent recent university degree: MSc / MRes (also candidates about to obtain such a degree are welcome to apply) or equivalent
• Experience in cancer or metabolic research is desirable
• A basic understanding of molecular and cellular biology techniques is expected
• Prior work with animals and FELASA certificate would be useful, but is not essential
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Interest and creativity to shape your own thesis project
• Energy and power to follow your scientific interest in the frame of chronic inflammation and cancer

Benefits

Modern Environment

• Innovative university hospital
• State-of-the-art technology
• World-class international research
• Excellent career prospects

Research

• Cutting-edge research at the highest level
• Support from PhD to professorship

Career & Development

• Structured onboarding
• In-house academy
• Diverse training opportunities
• Targeted career development

Internationality

• Cultural & generational diversity
• Support through language courses
• Integration programmes (nursing)

Equal Opportunities & Diversity

• Active promotion of equality
• Internal committees as a point of contact
• Network for conflict resolution

About us

The Faculty of Medicine is one of the four founding faculties of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. With its non-clinical facilities as well as its research and teaching area corresponding to the organisational units of the University Hospital, it is one of the largest medical training and research institutions in Baden-Württemberg.

About the laboratory “Chronic Inflammation and Cancer"

The newly built M3 (Malignome, Metabolome, Microbiome) Research Center affiliated with University of Tübingen and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Our laboratory “Chronic Inflammation and Cancer” led by the director of the M3 Research Institute (Tübingen) has a long-standing interest in studying pathways involved in chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in cancer and inflammatory diseases, specifically MASLD dysfunction metabolism associated liver disease but also smoking induced lung cancer as well as organ cross talk in the context of hepatitis and skin desease. For example, we have contributed in the understanding of the role of adaptive and innate immunity in fatty liver disease and subsequent liver cancer (Haybeck et al., 2009 Cancer Cell, Malehmir et al, Nature Medicine 2019, Wolf et al. Cancer Cell 2014, Gallage et al., Cell Metabolism 2024) as well as demonstrated that liver cancer induced by MASLD is resistant to immunotherapy (Pfister et al. Nature 2021). We have also contributed to the understanding of the role of DNA damage pathways in liver cancer (Boege et al. Cancer Cell 2017), how chronic mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS results in cholangiocellular carcinoma (Yuan et al. Cancer Cell 2017) and how chronic inflammatory pathways drive age-related gliosis (O’Connor et al. Cancer Cell 2019).

Contact for questions

Mr. Prof. Mathias Heikenwälder

mathias.heikenwaelder@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Online application to

Mr. Prof. Mathias Heikenwälder
Index number: 7616
Including CV and cover letter



Application deadline: 22.06.2026

Apply now

WhatsApp application

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We offer remuneration in accordance with TV-L (collective wage agreement for the Public Service of the German Federal States), severely handicapped persons with equal qualifications are given preferential consideration. Interview expenses are not covered. Please note the applicable vaccination regulations. The employer actively promotes equal opportunities and particularly encourages applications from women.

1 Continued employment will be sought whereever possible.

2 The data provided does not constitute a basis for an employment contract at the University Hospital of Tübingen. It is intended to serve as a rough guide for all interested parties. Remuneration is governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreements in conjunction with the corresponding pay scales. Further information can be found here.

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