PhD Position in Hormonal Signaling Pathways in the ENS, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Summary

Ruhr University Bochum is offering a 36-month, 65% part-time PhD position in the Department of Cytology within the Faculty of Medicine, starting February 1, 2027. The research focuses on hormonal signaling pathways in the enteric nervous system (ENS) of rats and humans. Responsibilities include preparing murine and human ENS tissues, cultivating primary cell cultures, performing qRT-PCR, Western blots, immunohistochemical staining, flow cytometry, LC-MS/MS, and correlative light and electron microscopy. Applicants must hold a strong Master's degree in biology, biochemistry, or related fields and possess certification for rodent research. Salary is based on pay grade E13 TV-L. Applications are accepted until November 9, 2026.

Key Facts

Employer	Ruhr University Bochum
Department	Cytologie
Position Type	PhD
Discipline	Biology / Biochemistry / Biomedical Sciences
Research Area	Hormonal Signaling Pathways in the ENS of Rats and Humans
Degree Required	Master degree in Biology, Biochemistry or similar natural science/biomedical fields
Experience	Certification for working with rodents (animal science, FELASA, EU Function A, GV-SOLAS, or equivalent) and experience in the mentioned methods (proven e.g. by thesis).
Salary	Pay grade E13 TV-L (65% part-time)
Funding	TV-L E13 salary (may be externally funded by third parties)
Contract Duration	36 months
Language	German or English (competence in one and willingness to learn the other required)
Deadline	2026-11-09
Employer Contact	Sven Liebthal ([email protected], Tel.: +49 234 32 26733), Dr. Sarah Stahlke (Tel.: +49 234 32 21078)
Employer Address	Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia

About the Project

The Department of Cytology researches mechanisms related to nervous system pathologies and neuroregenerative processes in the central and enteric nervous systems. This specific doctoral project focuses on investigating hormonal signaling pathways within the enteric nervous system (ENS) using both rodent models and human tissue samples.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparation of murine and human ENS tissue, isolation of the ENS, and establishment of primary and organotypic cultures.
• Independent cultivation and maintenance of primary cell cultures as well as executing cell-based assays.
• RNA and protein quantification, performing qRT-PCRs and Western blots.
• Creation of paraffin and cryosections with subsequent immunohistochemical staining.
• Collaboration with various university departments and clinics to obtain human intestinal samples.
• Performing flow cytometry, LC-MS/MS, and correlative light and electron microscopy analyses.
• Independent and careful documentation of experimental procedures and results.

Required Skills

• Very good Master's degree in biology, biochemistry, or similar natural/biomedical sciences.
• Proof of qualification for working with rodents (animal experiment science, FELASA, participation/execution of animal experiments EU Function A, GV-SOLAS, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience in the specified laboratory methods (e.g., evidenced by Bachelor's or Master's thesis).
• Competence in at least German or English, with willingness to learn the other.

Who Should Apply

Candidates holding a strong Master's degree in biology, biochemistry, or related biomedical sciences with certification for working with rodents (FELASA/EU Function A or equivalent) and practical experience in cell culture and analytical molecular biology methods. Proficiency in German or English is required.

Benefits

• Employment under the collective agreement for the public service of the German states (TV-L E13, 65%).
• Flexible working options including mobile work and teleworking.
• Collaboration within a committed and appreciative team.
• Free language courses provided by the university.

About the Employer

Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) is a leading research and reform-oriented campus university in Germany, uniting a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines to foster interdisciplinary collaboration within the University Alliance Ruhr.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline for this position?

The application deadline is November 9, 2026.

What is the contract duration and working time?

The position is fixed-term for 36 months at a part-time rate of 65% (25.89 hours per week), starting February 1, 2027.

What educational degree is required to apply?

A very good Master's degree in biology, biochemistry, or similar natural science or biomedical fields is required.

What animal work qualifications are required?

Applicants must provide proof of qualification to work with rodents, such as FELASA certification, EU Function A, GV-SOLAS, or equivalent.

What language skills are necessary?

Competence in either German or English is required, along with a willingness to acquire skills in the other language. Free language courses are provided by RUB.