2 PhD Student Positions in Pancreatic Cancer Immunology and Computational Biology

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)

„Research for a life without cancer“ is our mission at the German Cancer Research Center. We investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and look for new cancer prevention strategies. We develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. Every contribution counts – whether in research, administration or infrastructure. This is what makes our daily work so meaningful and exciting.

Together with university partners at seven renowned partner sites, we have established the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK).

The Department of Translational Cancer Research and the Institute of Experimental Cancer Therapy at the DKTK partner site Munich is offering for as soon as possible

2 PhD Student Positions in Pancreatic Cancer Immunology and Computational Biology

Reference number: 2025-0104

• München
• Full-time
• Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, TUM

We are deploying advanced in vitro and in vivo model systems, genetic perturbations and single cell technologies with spatial readouts to study the distinct routes of tumor evolution and modes of immunosuppression we identified in our previous work in subtypes of pancreatic cancer (e.g., Nat Commun. 2023 14:2642 and 14:1201; Nature Cancer 2022 3:318-336, Cancer Discovery 2021 11:3158-3177, Nature 2018 554:62-68; Nat. Rev. Cancer 2017 17:239-253; Nat. Commun. 2016, 7:10770; Nat Med. 2014, 20:1340-7). During the past decade, our lab has generated a comprehensive resource of pancreatic primary tumors and primary cell cultures. Multiple NGS methods and biological readouts have been conducted to decipher the molecular makeup and phenotypes of these tumors. The advertised projects focus on (1) unraveling targetable nodes of the cancer-immune niche and its impact on treatment response and resistance, (2) understanding the contribution of cancer associated fibroblasts towards immunosuppression, and (3) developing computational single cell and spatial transcriptomics pipelines to investigate tumor subtype specific genetic interactions in close collaboration with the Theis lab at Helmholtz Center Munich.

We are an enthusiastic and international team and offer intensive training and mentoring.

Your Tasks

The successful candidates will have the opportunity to:

• Gain important insights into clinically relevant aspects of cancer development and therapy
• Perform state-of-the-art in vivo experiments and large-scale drug and genetic screens
• Learn and apply a wide spectrum of genetic, molecular and cell biology, biochemical as well as immunological and bioinformatics techniques to study translational aspects of cancer (e.g. Cre/loxP and Flp/FRT based dual- and triple recombinase systems, organoid culture, orthotopic transplantations of cells/organoids, CRISPR/Cas9, molecular in vivo imaging, quantitative proteomics/phosphoproteomics, multiple transcriptomics and genomics approaches, single cell sequencing, histocytometry)
• Set up bioinformatics platforms and develop computational pipelines for the analysis of bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, DNA-sequencing datasets and proteomics
• Integrate these datasets with molecular (WES, WGBS, lcWGS, ChIPseq, ATACseq), phenotypic (e.g. histology), drug screening and clinical information
• Interact within a diverse and multidisciplinary environment of biologists, clinicians, computational scientists and mathematicians within the TranslaTUM.

Your Profile

We are looking for exceptional self-motivated bright individuals with a Diploma or Master’s degree in bioinformatics, biochemistry, biology, molecular/translational medicine or related subjects. Previous exposure to and experience with basic biochemical and molecular biology techniques, proteomics or bioinformatics as well as interests in molecular aspects of cancer research are essential. Due to the interdisciplinary framework and close collaboration between wet-lab and computational scientists, good communicative skills in English are essential. German language skills are not required. Contact:
Prof. Dr. Dieter Saur
Telefon: +49 89 4140 9130

The positions are limited to 3 years. An extension is possible.

Are you interested?

Then become part of the DKFZ and join us in contributing to a life without cancer!

Apply now
We are convinced that an innovative research and working environment thrives on the diversity of its employees. Therefore, we welcome applications from talented people, regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical ability, religion and age. People with severe disabilities are given preference if they have the same aptitude.

Notice: We are subject to the regulations of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). Therefore, all our employees must provide proof of immunity against measles.