Better together. For life.

At the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), we are committed to excellence in research, education, and comprehensive healthcare across our clinics. Every day, our team of approximately 16,100 dedicated employees works to make the world a healthier place. Our goal is to be one of the leading university hospitals while also being the best employer in our industry.

At UKE, we believe that meaningful and successful work should align with our employees' personal needs and individual lifestyles. Just as diverse as these needs are, so too is the variety of personalized solutions we offer.

Welcome to the UKE. Pediatric high-grade gliomas are among the most devastating childhood cancers, carrying a dismal prognosis and an urgent unmet need for effective therapies. We are seeking an exceptionally motivated PhD candidate to join our team at the Neuro-Immuno-Oncology and Cell Therapy group (https://kinderkrebs-forschung.de/en/research/neuro-immuno-oncology/) for an ERC Starting Grant-funded project, in which we aim to develop and preclinically evaluate novel cell therapy approaches for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. The project employs a range of cutting-edge approaches, including microglia replacement strategies.

This position offers the opportunity to participate in the structured PhD program of the faculty, gain hands-on experience in advanced in vivo and molecular techniques, and contribute to high-impact research. The prospective PhD student will be mentored and supervised directly by the principal investigator throughout the PhD program, and join a stimulating and supportive research environment within a dynamic team located at the Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg on the UKE campus.

Our lab values scientific rigor, mutual respect, open communication, and genuine teamwork. We hold ourselves to the highest professional standards while fostering an environment where curiosity is encouraged and every team member’s contribution matters. If you want to think big, work hard, and help change outcomes for children with brain tumors, we look forward to hearing from you.


Your tasks:

Actively support the research group intellectually, organizationally, and experimentally
Formulate scientific questions based on the current state of the field
Design and conduct experiments
Analyze and interpret experimental data
Communicate, present, and publish scientific findings


This position is to be filled with 65% of the regular weekly working hours and initially limited to three years in accordance with WissZeitVG, with the possibility of extension.
Completed scientific university degree in the natural sciences (e.g., molecular medicine, biology, neuroscience)
Preferably previous research experience in neuro-oncology or neuroimmunology
Strong interest in biomedical research and highest motivation to work on an ambitious project with demanding methodology
Excellent teamwork and communication skills, flexibility, and initiative
Practical experience in cell culture and molecular biology
Hands-on experience in mouse experiments; prior experience with intracranial stereotactic injections or comparable surgical procedures is a strong advantage
Ideally programming skills in R or bioinformatics experience
Very good command of English (written and spoken)
Candidates with equivalent skills and experience and strong interest in the described research area are also encouraged to apply


Immunity status
Please note that employment is contingent upon proof of immunization or immunity against the measles virus, in accordance with applicable legal and medical requirements. Documentation (e.g., vaccination certificate) must be provided before employment begins.
Attractive compensation according to TVöD/VKA
Secure employment with meaningful work and respectful collaboration
Comprehensive onboarding and open knowledge exchange within the team
Extensive training and further...