The main focus of the Division of Nephrology of the Department of Internal Medicine III (Head: Prof. Dr. med. Ch. Hugo; (http://www.nephrologie-dresden.org) is the diagnosis and treatment of renal diseases and hypertension. Nephrology is a division with a lot of research possibilities with national and international collaborations and includes a wide variety of basic and patient-based clinical research. Hereby, we aim to offer medical treatments to our patients which is always based on the latest evidence and to develop innovative therapies by our clinical and translational studies. The Experimental Lab of the Division of Nephrology (Head: Prof. Dr. med. Ch. Hugo; (http://www.nephrologie-dresden.org), Medical Clinic III at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden has a vacant position for

Predoctoral Fellow / PhD student (f/m)

The position is immediately available. The contract is planned for 36 months, but will start with a period of 12 months. The successful candidate will incorporate into ongoing projects on the identification and characterization of stem and progenitor cell niches participating in the regeneration of the kidney. Our group focuses on the regenerative mechanisms in the kidney with respect to molecular and cellular interactions of resident and extrinsic cell types by generating and using transgenic mice, in vivo gene transfer methods, and kidney organoids from human iPS cells. By creating a triple transgenic mouse model, we have recently identified renin-positive cells (RLCs) as the important precursor cell type for glomerular regeneration after injury (Starke et al., J Am Soc Nephrol 2015; Hickmann et al., Kidney Int 2017). Using longitudinal intravital microscopy of the same labelled cell (RLC) within the same renal structure in mice, we are able to track these cells daily during renal regeneration. Future studies will in particular focus on the interaction of the immune system (dendritic cells, macrophages, cytokines) with the activation, differentiation and regulation of this renal precursor cell niche. Mesangial cell injury and insufficient regeneration play a major role in many inflammatory chronic kidney diseases including the most frequent mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (IgA type). In our murine model of mesangial injury, successful repair depends on the timely recruitment of mesangial progenitor cells immigrating the glomeruli. We found that RLC precursors cells the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) repopulate the glomerulus after mesangial injury, thus defining a novel progenitor cell niche for glomerular repair. The RLCs are markedly influenced by inflammatory cytokines and are also featured by functional innate immunity signalling. Therefore, the principal aim of the project is to study the interplay between innate immunity and the progenitor RLC niche during mesangial cell regeneration after glomerular injury. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this interaction is clinically important for developing specific therapeutic strategies to beneficially influence the processes of kidney repair in chronic kidney disease. Your profile:
The PhD student will be expected to work on the characterization of different transgenic mice with compromised signalling mechanisms of innate immunity in progenitor Renin Lineage Cells (RLCs). Within her / his work, the longitudinal intravital microscopy of immune, glomerular (and other renal) cells will be a fundamental methodology to learn and apply to this project. In addition IHC, in situ hybridization, FACS, cell sorting, transcriptome and proteome analysis, as well as cell culture assays will be techniques (all of which are established within the group) being used in this thesis/project at the highest possible level.
We are looking for highly motivated applicants pursuing a PhD thesis with translational potential in experimental nephrology / regenerative mechanisms. A detailed CV (with publications if available), cover letter and the names of two references should be provided.
We offer an interesting research field with an excellent basic research scientific campus including the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), the Medical Faculty, the BIOTEC and the Max-Planck Institute for Cell Biology and Genetics in close neighbourhood to the historic city of Dresden. We offer you:

• Employment in the leading research, academic teaching and health care connected with a highly specialized working environment
• Realization of own ideas and employment in an innovative interdisciplinary team
• Flexible working hours possible for the realization of the combination of family and job
• Childcare by partnerships with nurseries near the University Hospital
• Use of company prevention offers, courses and fitness in our health centre Carus Vital
• Company pension plan for the time after the active employment
• Vocational training and professional development with individual planning of your career

Women are explicitly invited to apply. Handicapped persons will be preferred in case of equal qualification. We kindly ask you to apply preferably via our online form to make the selection process faster and more effective. Of course, we also consider your written application without any disadvantages. We look forward to receiving your application, until April 22^th, 2018 online with Registration number MK30918099. For further information please contact: Susanne Dollfus, Phone 0351-458-4233 or by Mail: susanne.dollfus@ukdd.de