Research Assistant (Ph.D. candidate) (f/m/d)

The Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research (ZWBF) (www.biomaterials-research.de) is offering the following position

Operational area: Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research (ZWBF)

Working hours: 65% (25,03 hours/week) of the full working hours in the collective agreement (currently 38.5 hours/week)
Duration/Term of employment: The position is limited till 30.06.2030 in accordance with the WissZeitVG (German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act). The successful applicant will be encouraged and supported to achieve a doctoral degree.
Start date: 01.10.2026
Remuneration/Rates: EG 13 (TV-L)

The team at the Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research conducts research in the field of 3D tissue engineering. The work focuses on the development of novel 3D tissue models. Advanced biofabrication methods such as 3D bioprinting are used in the production process. Customized hydrogels are used as matrices for the cells. The in vitro models can be used to investigate as yet unexplained physiological and pathological mechanisms. Such 3D models are also used to screen new drug candidates. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the topic, scientists from various disciplines work together in our team on a transdisciplinary basis.

Why choose us?

We offer…

• 30 days of vacation
• A bonus of 3,000 euros for employees who help recruit employees in the care sector
• An attractive company pension scheme from VBL
• Education opportunities, including updating and upgrading
• Access to public transport
• In-house kindergarten (places subject to availability)
• Staff residences (places subject to availability and by arrangement)
• An onboarding app for new employees
• Extended opening hours in the staff restaurant

Tasks:

You will work in the new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC/SFB 1739) 'Soft tissue–alveolar bone crosstalk - Impact of systemic diseases on mechanisms of periodontal remodelling', which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). You will work on the subproject entitled 'Dissecting the role of the periodontal-immune axis in mechanical induced tissue remodelling using an advanced dynamic 3D in vitro model'.

Your work will focus on developing a multicellular dynamic in vitro tissue model of the periodontal ligament. To achieve this, you will synthesize and characterize customized hydrogel blends based on their rheological and mechanical behavior. You will also assess the biological performance of the different matrices based on the behavior of the cells depending on their composition and the ratio of the embedded cells. These results will be compared with data from animal experiments conducted in other subprojects of the consortium with the aim of refining the in vitro model. You will then study the effects of cyclic loading on the embedded cells in the bioreactor investigating how they impact the remodeling behavior of the artificial tissue. The additional effect of immune cells is of particular interest here, and will be investigated in collaboration with the project partner of our subproject.

Profile:

You have successfully and quickly completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology or a related field. During your studies, you have acquired specialist knowledge in tissue engineering. You have gained practical experience working in an S1 cell culture laboratory. You are passionate about translational biomedical research and possess excellent communication skills. In addition to your professional qualifications, you demonstrate a high degree of determination and resilience, as well as excellent teamwork skills. You have an excellent command of written and spoken English (Level C1).

• Profound knowledge in tissue engineering
• Be able to carry out research projects successfully and with scientific depth
• A high degree of determination and resilience
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Excellent communication skills

Application:

The application deadline for the advertised position GB-P-56384 is 15.08.2026.

Contact:

RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research (ZWBF), Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Fischer, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Fischer
E-Mail: hfischer@ukaachen.de
Phone: +49 (0)241 80 80935

We look forward to receiving your application!

This job advertisement is aimed at all genders.

The RWTH Aachen University Hospital promotes equal opportunity and diversity. Applications from women are expressly sought and, in accordance with relevant laws, will be treated preferentially.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and they will be given priority if they are equally suitable.

Employment at a fraction less than the weekly full-time working hours stated above is generally possible.

It is preferable to use our digital application portal at www.karriere.ukaachen.de to apply. The portal allows you to upload your documents to an electronic application folder, which is protected from unauthorized access. Applications received by email are transferred to our application portal and then deleted in accordance with data protection regulations. (Transmission by email is usually inadequately protected.) If you do not agree to the transfer of your data to our portal, we unfortunately cannot consider your application. The data in the portal will be deleted after the retention period has expired.

This job advertisement was created using an AI-supported system. Final content review and responsibility lie with the Universitätsklinikum Aachen.