Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter (PhD Student iSTRIDE) (m/w/d)

Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöRLeipzig

Stellenbeschreibung:

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter (PhD Student iSTRIDE) (m/w/d) (707)

Facility: Department für Diagnostik, Fachbereich Mikrobiologie

Employment Type: Befristet bis

Working Hours: Teilzeit (26,00h)

Planned Start Date:

Compensation: TV-L 13

About Us - The Medical Faculty

The Medical Faculty of the University of Leipzig, with its tradition spanning over 600 years, is one of the largest research institutions in the Leipzig region. With over 1,300 employees, it is the largest of the 14 faculties of the University of Leipzig and serves as a training center for approximately 3,500 students of human and dental medicine, pharmacy, and midwifery.

PhD positions in MSCA doctoral network iSTRIDE: Early career researcher

iSTRIDE DC03: PhD position in ‘Diagnosis of cardiovascular device infections: an ex vivo study’

University Leipzig seeks a highly motivated PhD candidate for a fully funded, international doctoral position within the Marie Sklodowska‑Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA‑DN) project iSTRIDE (inter‑Sectoral Training for Research on the Pathology and Prevention of Indwelling Device Associated infEctions). iSTRIDE brings together a consortium of leading academic and industrial partners to tackle pressing issues related to Indwelling Device Associated Infections (IDAIs).

Project background

iSTRIDE integrates six hospitals, one research institute, seven academic universities, and two industrial partners, with profound expertise in microbiology, materials science, and diagnostic technology. The overall objective of the project is to deepen the understanding of different types of IDAIs and develop smart diagnostic tools and effective antimicrobial coatings.

Within the iSTRIDE Doctoral Network, 10 doctoral candidates (DCs) will receive advanced training. The programme emphasizes the development of strong translational skills for careers in biomedical research and medical technology innovation. Training is delivered through cross‑institutional collaboration, active engagement with industry partners, structured workshops, and research secondments. A distinctive feature of iSTRIDE is that all DCs will complete a hospital internship during their first year, providing early exposure to clinical environments and real‑world healthcare challenges.

The outlined PhD position “iStride DC03” is hosted and matriculated at University Leipzig focusing on the diagnostics of ex vivo cardiovascular devices. This research contributes to reducing device‑related infections.

Job Description

As a doctoral candidate in this role, you will be part of an international research environment, benefitting from network‑wide training activities, interdisciplinary collaborations, and planned secondments to other iStride partner institutions. You will work at the interface of infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, microscopy and molecular biology.

The doctoral research will involve:

Clinical microbiology
Molecular imaging techniques (Fluorescence in situ hybridization)
Molecular biology (Next Generation Sequencing)
AI for digital image analysis

This position is offered for 36 months, with the earliest starting date as agreed upon recruitment. The primary academic advisor is Prof. Dr. Annette Moter, with additional mentorship provided during secondments at planned collaborating institutions Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie ‘Victor Babes’ Timisoara Hospital in Romania, Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen in The Netherlands, and Universiteit Gent, Belgium.

Profile

M.Sc. Diploma (120 ECTS points) or equivalent in natural sciences
Analytic and quantitative skills, laboratory‑based experimentation, preferably in medical microbiology/biotechnology/pharmacology
Experience in Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of cardiovascular tissues or prostheses
A solid knowledge of English as the spoken and written language

We further expect good interpersonal skills, the ability to thrive in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment, the ability to present work at an international conference, and the willingness to spend several months working with project collaborators at partner universities in this project.

Eligibility Criteria

Researchers can be of any nationality. At the time of recruitment:

Should not have been awarded a title of PhD (Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.)
Should not have resided or carried out your main activity in Germany, for more than 12 months within the last 3 years

We offer

The opportunity to be a part of iSTRIDE, which will facilitate DCs in reaching a high level of technical and project‑specific excellence and provide many opportunities for developing transferable skills.
Working, teaching, and research at University Leipzig, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology

Application details

We look forward to receiving your online application including a letter of motivation, a CV, electronic copies of your academic diplomas and certificates, and contact details of two references. Applications will be reviewed on 1st of May, with the intent to conclude the search by 30th June 2026. Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through the institutional portal.

For further information, please visit

Severely disabled applicants will be given preference in the event of equal suitability. Please enclose corresponding proof with your application.