Doctoral Researcher Position

The Department of Medicine, research group on Physiology and Pathophysiology, Retinal Physiology, PI: Dr. Moritz Lindner, is currently accepting applications for a

Research Assistant in Visual Neuroscience (PhD student)

The position is available immediately and offered for a period of 3 years, if no former times of qualification must be considered. Salary and benefits offered commensurate to a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H E 13, 50 %).

Dr. Lindner's group uses a wide range of methods from immunohistochemistry to live-cell imaging and electrophysiology to better understand pathophysiological processes in the retina and to develop innovative therapeutic approaches (e.g. viral gene therapy).

You will specifically work on a collaborative project funded by the German Research Foundation entitled "Re-engineering mammalian opsins as a tool for optogenetic vision restoration" (See recent publications: Rodgers et al, Current Biology; Lindner et al, Prog Retin Eye Res., 2022.)

Your tasks:

  • applying molecular biology methods to engineer novel optogenetic tools
  • viral gene transfer
  • immunohistochemical analyses of murine tissue samples
  • planning and conducting in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological studies (ERG, MEA)

The position is limited to a time period deemed adequate for the completion of a doctoral degree. As part of the assigned duties, there will be ample opportunity to conduct the independent scientific research necessary for the completion of a doctorate. The limitation complies to § 2, 1 WissZeitVG.

Your qualification:

  • MSc-degree or equivalent in Biology, Biomedical Sciences or a related discipline
  • profound knowledge in one or ideally more of the following techniques of: Molecular biology, Electrophysiology or Live cell microscopy
  • experience in advanced statistical data analysis and a qualification in animal experimentation (e.g. FELASA A) are advantageous
  • Master thesis or publication in a methodologically or thematically relevant field

Disposition to persue own scientific qualification (e. g. a doctorate project in the field of Neurophysiology) is expected.

This PhD project is part of a highly collaborative DFG-funded program (SPP2127) and will benefit from close interaction with PhD students from other participating laboratories, e.g. whilst participating in Summer Schools organized by the collaborative. Moreover, SPP2127 particularly students with childcare responsibilities. Further information can be found at www.lindnerlab.de and www.spp2127.de.

We actively support the professional development of junior researchers by the offers of Marburg Research Academy (MARA), the International Office, the Higher Education Didactics Office and the Human Resources Development Office.

We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, female applicants will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Applicants with children are welcome – Philipps-University is certified as a family-friendly university. A reduction of working time is possible. Applicants with a disability as described in SGB IX (§ 2 Abs. 2, 3) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.

Contact for E-Mail-applications:

Please send your application, containing a supporting statement, a CV and a recent text production as a work sample, mentioning registration number above as a single PDF file to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 26th February 2023.