Postdoc (m/f/d) Schneider Lab
Postdoc (m/f/d)
in the Schneider Lab at the Center for Regenerative Therapies
The position is available starting January 1, 2027, on a full-time or part-time basis for a fixed term of 36 months. Remuneration is based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federal States (TV-L); classification in pay group E13 is possible, subject to the fulfillment of personal requirements.
The Schneider Lab investigates how inter-organ communication and neural, immune, and metabolic circuits shape chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Our research lies at the interface of hepatology, neurobiology, immunology, and systems medicine. We combine state-of-the-art experimental disease models with spatial and single-cell technologies, advanced imaging, molecular profiling, and translational studies using well-characterized patient cohorts and human biospecimens.
The ERC Starting Grant project LIVER-CIRCUITS, which investigates how the nervous system controls chronic liver disease and liver cancer aims to move beyond descriptive neuro-immune interactions and define the functional neural circuits that shape disease initiation, tissue remodeling, immunity, and cancer progression. By combining circuit-level perturbation with spatial and single-cell technologies and translational human studies, we seek to uncover fundamental principles of neural control in the diseased liver and identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities. The overall aim is to identify previously unrecognized neuro-immune and neuro-epithelial circuits that control liver disease and to translate these mechanistic insights into novel biomarkers and therapeutic concepts.
Your responsibilities:
- Mapping the sympathetic, sensory, and autonomic innervation of the liver and tumor microenvironment
- Defining how neural signals regulate immune, stromal, vascular, and epithelial cell states
- Functionally perturbing neural circuits using genetic, pharmacological, chemogenetic, surgical, and other experimental approaches
- Investigating mechanisms of neural remodeling during chronic liver injury and cancer development
- Integrating functional experiments with single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, advanced imaging, proteomics, and metabolomics
- Translating experimental findings into human disease using well-characterized cohorts, tissue specimens, and clinical datasets
- Establishing and developing new experimental approaches within the laboratory
- Working closely with computational scientists, clinicians, neuroscientists, immunologists, and international collaborators
- Supervising PhD, MD, and MSc students and contributing intellectually to the wider research program
- Leading manuscripts and contributing to high-level collaborative publications
- Presenting findings at international meetings and building an independent scientific network
- Developing fellowship and grant applications as part of a structured path toward scientific independence
Your Profil:
We are seeking a scientist who is curious, rigorous, collaborative, and scientifically ambitious.
- A PhD in biology, neuroscience, immunology, cancer biology, molecular medicine, hepatology, physiology, or a related field
- A strong publication record appropriate to career stage
- Experience with experimental biomedical research and a solid understanding of hypothesis-driven science
- Expertise in at least one relevant area, such as: neurobiology or neural circuit manipulation, immunology, cancer biology, mouse models, advanced imaging, single-cell or spatial biology, computational analysis of high-dimensional datasets
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work across disciplines
- Motivation to develop toward scientific independence
- Experience in liver biology is welcome but not required
- We are particularly interested in candidates who bring complementary expertise from neuroscience, immunology, or cancer biology
We offer:
- Compensation: Based on the TV-L collective bargaining agreement in pay grade E13, plus an annual bonus, provided you meet the personal requirements
- Vacation: 30 days of paid vacation
- Professional Development: Extensive internal and external training and development opportunities to continuously strengthen your skills
- Company Culture: We value transparency, team spirit, and shared success. Celebrate with us at company gatherings or sporting events like the Rewe Team Challenge
- Mobility: A subsidy for a job ticket to make your commute eco-friendly and convenient
- Health: We promote your well-being with modern fitness and exercise programs at our health center, mental health programs, and a comprehensive workplace health management program
- Shopping benefits: Take advantage of employee discounts at our clinic pharmacy, exclusive corporate benefits, and other shopping portals
- Work-life balance: Our Family Office supports you with questions regarding daycare spots, vacation programs, and caring for family members. We also offer flexible work arrangements
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Dr. Kai Markus Schneider (markus.schneider@ukdd.de).
Your contact in the HR Directorate
Antonia Schulz
Tel: 0351-458 77306
