The University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) unites the Medical Faculty of the Georg-August University and the University Hospital in an integration model. With around 9,700 employees, the UMG and its subsidiaries are one of the largest employers in the region. Our clinics and institutes stand for high-quality patient care, excellent research, modern teaching and transfer of innovative technology.

Göttingen as a city of science is located in the center of Germany and the University Medical Center Göttingen is integrated into an attractive network of university and non-university scientific institutions.

The Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies (EKFZ) of the University Medical Center Göttingen is looking for a new position for the earliest start date

PhD student position (f/m/d)

part time, with 25,025 hours per week, initially limited for three years with the possibility of extension
Remuneration according to TV-L

The Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies and the Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology invite applications for an excellent and highly motivated PhD student with an interest in translation of optogenetics into the clinics to join the platform 4) for immune-phenotyping of the newly founded Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies (EKFZ: https://ekfz.uni-goettingen.de/). The position will be filled subject to the funding provider releasing the funds.

The EKFZ at the University Medical Center Göttingen is dedicated to the translation of the four core optogenetic approaches to restore i) hearing and ii) vision and explore the potential of optogenetics for iii) gastric pacemaking and iv) brain-computer interfaces. These four teams are supported by the platforms for 1) opsin engineering, 2) gene transfer, 3) disease models, 4) immune-phenotyping and 5) development of medical devices.

The EKFZ relies on a close interdisciplinary collaboration between the University Medical Center Göttingen, the faculties of Physics, Mathematics, and Biology of the University, and non-university research institutions in Göttingen, such as the German Primate Center and the Max Planck Institutes for Multidisciplinary Sciences and for Dynamics and Self-Organization, as well as partners at the Medical University Hannover (MHH) and University of Freiburg.

Your tasks

work within the platform 4) immune-phenotyping
prepare the translation of optogenetic therapies into the clinics
obtain a PhD degree

Your qualifications

completed Master of Sciences or equivalent in a Life Sciences subject (biology, chemistry, physics,…)
labwork experience (cloning, cell culture, transfection/transduction, FACS, immunostaining, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA,
independent, responsible, flexible working style and ability to work in an international team
a keen interest in translational optogenetics

We offer

structured PhD training within GAUSS/GGNB
training within the EKFZ academy, promoting exchange between medical and natural scientists and specifically focusing on training in translation (patent applications, regulatory processes, clinical studies, etc.)
a stimulating intellectual environment with innovative translational research-projects within the interdisciplinary research areas
excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
mentoring by renowned scientists of the EKFZ
a wide range of interesting benefits as an UMG employee (including in-house daycare center, child vacation care, attractive infrastructure; health and sports promoted by excellent company health management)
location in a beautiful and historic German university town steeped in tradition, with a campus that includes the University of Göttingen, Max Planck Institutes, German Primate Centre and other local research institutions

The University Medical Center Göttingen is committed to professional equality. We therefore seek to increase the proportion of under-represented genders. Applicants with disabilities and equal qualifications will be given preferential treatment.

Please include in your application a cover letter, your CV, list of publications, references, and relevant certificates until 20th December 2025.

Our goal as University Medical Center Göttingen is professional equality for all genders. We strive to equalize the gender ratio in areas where there is underrepresentation. The University Medical Center Göttingen is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled people and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal suitability, applications from severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the relevant regulations. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability/equal status in your letter of application in order to safeguard your interests.

We look forward to receiving your application!