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Apply now to join our team as a doctoral candidate and become part of the CRC/SFB 1755 CASCAID “Cellular and Systems Control of Autoimmune Disease”. CASCAID is an interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Centre funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

CASCAID is dedicated to developing novel strategies for sustained drug-free remission in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases with a focus on arthritis, lupus and inflammatory bowel diseases by identifying and characterising dysregulated immune-cell networks and tissue programmes.

CASCAID offers a unique clinically anchored and internationally connected collaborative research environment. Erlangen is one of the leading centres for clinical centred research in the field of immunology in Europe and offers access to all state-of-the-art technological platforms.

We are offering several PhD positions across various interdisciplinary projects:

Option 1: This project investigates whether tissues truly return to their physiological baseline after inflammation or retain persistent structural alterations that influence future disease susceptibility. Utilizing innovative 3D imaging and AI-driven analysis, the study maps cellular niche restoration and tissue remodeling to define the requirements for genuine histological healing beyond mere clinical remission.

Option 2: This research project investigates how CD19-CAR T-cell therapy achieves long-term remission in autoimmune diseases by restructuring the stromal environment within lymph nodes. By comparing CAR T-cells with conventional treatments, the study aims to characterize how the "resetting" of various stromal cell populations and follicular structures contributes to a permanent cure.

Option 3: This project investigates how CD19-CAR T-cell therapy restores healthy skin architecture and halts fibroblast activation in systemic sclerosis. Using spatial omics and advanced imaging, the study identifies molecular drivers of tissue regeneration to define markers for deep histological healing.

Option 4: This research project investigates "inflammatory fibroblast memory" by examining why activated fibroblasts persist in patients with arthritis even after successful treatment. Using gene editing in mouse models and comparative molecular profiling, the study explores how these persistent cells trigger relapses and chronic damage.

Option 5: This project establishes a centralized infrastructure combining high-resolution tissue imaging with AI-driven analysis to understand the spatial dynamics of remission and relapse in autoimmune diseases. By integrating imaging and omics data, it visualizes complex tissue processes that remain hidden using conventional methods. The goal is to set new computational standards for researching inflammatory mechanisms and genuine tissue healing.

Doctoral researchers in CASCAID will be integrated into LIFE@FAU graduate school, which teaches soft and hard skills beyond the research work in the host laboratory and offers a unique infrastructure for team building and exchange opportunities for doctoral students. Doctoral candidates are further supported by a thesis mentoring committee and will benefit from career development support.

Your tasks:

• Processing complex tissue and patient samples for molecular analysis
• Conducting functional studies in cell culture models or preclinical systems to validate therapeutic mechanisms
• Processing and interpreting extensive data sets
• Testing hypotheses through experiments in cell cultures or experimental models

Essential experience/qualifications:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field, either held or due to be completed at the time of application
• Strong interest in immunological research
• Analytical thinking and the ability to work independently
• High level of motivation and commitment
• Fluent written and spoken English

We offer:

• Employment in accordance with TV-L (collective agreement for the public sector) based on DFG standards
• The opportunity to make a significant research contribution to publication-oriented projects and to write high-quality manuscripts
• Excellent access to state-of-the-art technologies
• Support in presenting your work at international conferences to exchange ideas with the international scientific community
• A strong network of internationally renowned collaborators

Further information:

Sandra Jeleazcov
Leitung Klinik- und Wissenschaftsmanagement

Applications:

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
Medizinische Klinik 3 - Rheumatologie und Immunologie
Ulmenweg 18
91054 Erlangen