Postdoctoral position in organoid engineering and brain disease modeling (f/m/d)

Universität Heidelberg

The Ruperto Carola University in Heidelberg is one of Europe′s leading research institutions and the oldest university in Germany, particularly known for its world-leading research in the life sciences and medicine. The Neuenheimer Feld Campus of Heidelberg University is the largest campus for natural and life sciences in Germany, where the Faculty of Engineering Sciences bridges material sciences, molecular biotechnology and computational sciences. The modern Campus harbors the buildings of the science faculties and institutes, in direct vicinity to the University Hospital Heidelberg, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Strong interactions exist via the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the medical campus Mannheim, and the Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim. The life science and engineering campus at Heidelberg University offers a network of core technology platforms, with access to various technologies and industry contacts, for which the CellNetworks Core Technology Platform serves as an umbrella structure. Heidelberg University invites applications for the following full-time postdoc position to begin as soon as possible.

Postdoctoral position in organoid engineering and brain disease modeling (f/m/d)

The position is funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS)

Background:

• The position is embedded in the collaborative research program “Precision Organoid Engineering for Multi-Organ Interaction Studies (POEM)”: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/cctp-poem
• The POEM program aims to generate reproducible, micrometer-scale controllable, and cost-efficient disease models by bringing together experts in molecular systems engineering, machine learning, biomedicine, and disease modeling. Central to its objectives is the development of methods for culturing tailor-made organoids, assembloids and co-organoids for inter-organ communication towards AI-supported large-scale / high-throughput analyses.
• The position will be embedded in two research groups: the group of the scientific head of the new organoid engineering lab and facility at Heidelberg University and Dr. Moritz Mall (DKFZ, Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research (HITBR)).
• Research will focus on building next-generation organoid and assembloid models combined with single-cell perturbation screens to monitor cell fate decisions and functional consequences in neurodevelopmental disorders and brain cancer.

Your Role:

• Develop and optimize human organoid and assembloid models for studying neurodevelopmental disorders and brain cancer
• Establish single-cell perturbation screening approaches to investigate cell fate decisions and disease mechanisms
• Integrate high-content imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, and functional assays (such as MEA) to assess the impact of disease mutations on neuronal biology
• Collaborate with bioengineers, material scientists, and computational biologists to leverage AI-supported analytical pipelines to create more reproducible organoid methodologies

Your Profile:

• We seek a highly motivated individual with an outstanding scientific background, excellent communication skills, and a passion for organoid research and bioengineering approaches
• Proven experience in mammalian cell culture, iPSC in vitro models, and organoid/assembloid technologies
• Hands-on experience with CRISPR-based perturbation screens
• Proficiency in bioinformatics, single-cell omics, or advanced imaging analysis
• Familiarity with functional readouts (e.g., MEA, calcium imaging, electrophysiology) is a plus
• Competitive applicants must have obtained an outstanding doctoral degree in disciplines such as stem cell biology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, cancer biology, or related fields and a proven record of high-level research, for example through peer-reviewed publications and conference contributions

This full-time position will be funded non-permanently for a limited period of initially 2 years via the CZS and remunerated according to TV-L. Employment at Heidelberg University needs to follow the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG). Applications should be sent as a single PDF no later than May 15^th 2025 by e-mail with subject “Application POEM 3” to Dr. Moritz Mall (office@cellnetworks.uni-heidelberg.de). Please direct any informal inquiries to Moritz Mall (m.mall@dkfz-heidelberg.de) or Andrea Leibfried (andrea.leibfried@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de).

Please include a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a list of current research support (if applicable), a summary of teaching experience (if applicable), a research summary, a list with 3 or more referees, including contact information.

Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.