Postdoc position Long-COVID/ auto antibodies (m/f/d)

Das Sind Wir

Outstanding patient care, award-winning research and teaching and cutting‑edge medicine and diagnosis is what defines us, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. With over 10,000 highly qualified members of staff, we are one of the largest employers in Middle Franconia, and we are still growing steadily. Thanks to the scientific expertise and dedication of our staff, we can offer our patients individual and pioneering treatment options. This is how we can guarantee medical progress. We are confident that you will find a job with us that fits you perfectly, and benefits others as well.

Your Tasks

Background of the project: This position is integrated in the research consortium PERCOLATE.

The overall aim of PERCOLATE is to establish a rapid and easy‑to‑use diagnostic test panel, based on detection of functional autoantibodies targeting G‑protein coupled receptors (GPCR‑fAAb) in combination with GPCR‑fAAb mediated ischaemia‑reperfusion parameters, accompanied by profiling of immune cells and viral reactivation in patients with Long‑COVID (LC) and Post‑Vaccination Syndrome (Post‑VAC) for a personalized patients’ stratification and care.

Your task will be to develop alternative methods to the assay by Wallukat et al., in which primary rat cardiomyocytes were used, to detect the functional active GPCR‑AAbs from patients’ sera (~300 samples). Examples of assays are genetically encoded reporter lines or visualization of receptor internalization. The cell system has to be a human system like hiPSC‑derived cardiomyocytes but could also be a human standard cell line. In addition, we expect the development of a research project aiming at a better mechanistic understanding of the disease with the focus of the role of autoantibodies (or alternatively a focus that the applicant has experience in; e.g., immune cells).

Comments

• Funding: The project is funded by the Ministry of Health. Salary: E13, 100% for 2 years with possible extension (funded until ).
• The position can also be done part‑time in principle.
• The starting date is as soon as possible.
• Please provide: CV, Letter of Motivation, Letters of Recommendation, Short proposal regarding your approach to detect functional autoantibodies and a „mechanistic project“ (max. 2 pages, not generated by AI).

Essential Experience / Qualifications

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral candidate with a PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, tissue engineering or similar and a strong background in cell and molecular biology with experience in life cell imaging, hiPSCs/hiPSC‑cardiomyocytes, autoantibodies, and/or GPCR biology to join our team. Very good English language skills are mandatory.

Additionally Beneficial Are

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral candidate with a PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, tissue engineering or similar and a strong background in cell and molecular biology with experience in life cell imaging, hiPSCs/hiPSC‑cardiomyocytes, autoantibodies, and/or GPCR biology to join our team. Very good English language skills are mandatory.

We Offer

• International team of around 5 postdocs, 10 PhD students and 5 technicians.
• Very well‑equipped laboratory (several cell culture hoods, epifluorescence and confocal microscopes, everything needed for cell and molecular biology, 3D bioprinters, zebrafish, mouse, rat facilities, and so on).
• Weekly lab meeting and journal club.
• Monthly “private meeting with Felix”.
• Part of the Translational Research Center embedded in several other institutes including the Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine.
• Access to significant funds for consumables.
• Opportunity to write own internal grants (technician position plus consumables) to gain experience in grant writing and to improve the CV.
• Laboratory is located in the city center.
• A secure, interesting position as part of a motivated, open team.
• A thorough and qualified induction, and support in your new challenge.
• Varied and responsible tasks with individual opportunities to grow and develop as a professional.
• A wide range of services for promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• All public service benefits, including supplementary benefits from the Federal and State Government Pension Fund (VBL).
• A family friendly environment and, if applicable, places in University accommodation.
• Professional experience can be taken into account when calculating total period of employment.