Interinstitutional Postdoctoral Positions

Interinstitutional Postdoctoral Positions

Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg–Mannheim

Employer: Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg–Mannheim
Location: Heidelberg & Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Position Type: Full-time Postdoctoral Positions (Interinstitutional)
Contract Duration: 2 years
Salary: According to DFG personnel funding rates, including benefits
Application Deadline: 31 March 2026 (5:00 pm CEST)
Earliest Start Date: 1 August 2026
Latest Start Date: 1 January 2027

Position Overview

The Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg–Mannheim invites applications from outstanding early career researchers, including clinician scientists, for interinstitutional postdoctoral positions supporting bridging research projects across two or more Alliance partner institutions.

This prestigious program enables postdoctoral researchers to conduct high-impact, collaborative research within one of Europe’s most powerful biomedical research ecosystems.

Research Environment

The Alliance brings together a unique network of internationally renowned institutions, including:

• Heidelberg University (with two Medical Faculties)
• Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD)
• Mannheim University Hospital (UMM)
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (MPImR)
• Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI)

Together, these partners offer unparalleled expertise across medicine, life sciences, and medical technologies, providing postdoctoral researchers with access to world-class infrastructure, mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research Scope

The Alliance primarily supports basic and translational research in the following areas:

• Cancer research
• Cardiovascular research
• Neuropsychiatric diseases
• Genomics
• Synthetic immunology
• Medical technologies
• Novel applications of AI in health and life sciences

Project Structure

Applicants must submit a self-designed research proposal or select from innovative project outlines proposed by Alliance project leaders.

Key requirements:

• Each project must be supervised by at least two Principal Investigators (PIs) from different Alliance institutions
• Applicants must contact potential Alliance PIs in advance
• A letter of support signed by the supervising Alliance PIs is mandatory

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a relevant field
• Degree must be completed no later than four months after the application deadline
• Have not worked more than four months as a postdoctoral researcher or clinician scientist at the Alliance institutions supervising the proposed project at the time of application
• Demonstrate strong research excellence, including at least one first-author publication

What the Alliance Offers

• Two-year funded postdoctoral positions at leading biomedical research institutions
• Competitive salary aligned with DFG funding guidelines
• Access to cutting-edge infrastructure and interdisciplinary mentorship
• A highly collaborative and international research environment
• Excellent career development opportunities in academia, medicine, and industry

Applicants must submit their application via the Alliance website.

Required materials, project outlines, and the registration link are available at: