Doctoral Student

PhD Position in Translational Systems Oncology of Urogenital Tumors

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin | Department of Urology

About Us

The research group

Translational Systems Oncology of Urogenital Tumors

at Charité is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our interdisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists.

Our work focuses on urogenital cancers using patient-derived organoid and tumor fragment models combined with multi-omics approaches. By systematically linking genotype to phenotype, we aim to develop predictive models of therapy response and advance innovative, personalized treatment strategies.

Project Overview

The successful candidate will contribute to a cutting-edge project investigating the targeted inhibition of essential genes in prostate and bladder cancer using allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9 technologies.

This project focuses on exploiting genomic regions with loss of heterozygosity to develop novel precision oncology strategies.

Key responsibilities include:

Development of allele-specific and chromosome arm-level CRISPR/Cas9 approaches in patient-derived primary cells Molecular characterization of primary cultures using next-generation sequencing (NGS) Independent design and execution of experiments within an interdisciplinary research environment Development of innovative methodologies and research ideas Documentation, analysis, and clear presentation of results Dissemination of findings through publications and conference presentations Active participation in lab meetings and journal clubs

You will be employed as a research associate. In accordance with §110 (4) BerlHG, dedicated time for academic qualification (PhD training) is provided within working hours.

Your Profile

Master’s degree in biology or a related life sciences field Strong background in molecular biology, cell biology, and cancer biology Hands-on experience in several of the following techniques is highly desirable: Primary cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9, flow cytometry (FACS), NGS, immunofluorescence, single-cell sequencing, patient-derived xenograft models Basic programming skills in

R and/or Python

are an advantage Evidence of scientific productivity (e.g., publications, conference contributions) is beneficial Ability to work independently, manage projects and timelines, and develop original research ideas Excellent communication skills in

English

(German is a plus, but not mandatory for strong candidates)

What We Offer

A dynamic, international, and highly collaborative research environment A challenging and impactful project at the forefront of translational cancer research High degree of scientific independence and creative freedom Structured onboarding and strong mentorship Access to extensive training and professional development programs Employee benefits (discounts for travel, sports, and shopping) Institutional pension scheme Certified family-friendly employer

Position Details

Salary:

E13 TVöD-K (65%) Working hours:

25 hours/week Duration:

3 years (fixed-term, project-based) Vacation:

30 days/year Application deadline:

April 9, 2026 Reference number:

6869