The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is one of Europe’s largest cancer research centers. “Research for a life without cancer" is the mission of our world-class scientists and all our team members.
The DKFZ is a place where the brightest minds pursue bold ideas and seek answers to pioneering scientific questions through collaboration, innovation, and exploration across many disciplines. We provide a dynamic environment which empowers excellence with state-of-the-art technologies, cutting edge infrastructure, and a global scientific network.
Contribute your knowledge, vision, and dedication to create a space where scientific discovery in cancer research is transformed into benefits for human health.
The Helmholtz Institute HI-TRON is a collaboration of the German Cancer Research Center with the Research Institute for Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (TRON gGmbH), the University Medical Center Mainz and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The goal of the partnership is to develop effective immunotherapies and to identify novel biomarkers for assessing the effectiveness of treatment.
To strengthen the HI-TRON team in Mainz, we are seeking for the next possible date a skilled and motivated
Postdoc for the Division of Personalized Immunotherapies
Reference number: 2025-0293
The Division of Personalized Immunotherapy (headed by Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci) at HI-TRON Mainz is looking for an individual with a strong background in oncoimmunology and a passion for developing innovative immunotherapies. The successful candidate will be instrumental in advancing fundamental knowledge and creating novel technologies to improve responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors via cell-specific mRNA delivery.
Your Tasks
Project Summary:
Exhausted CD8⁺ T cells in human tumors represent a highly heterogeneous population composed of multiple functional and developmental subsets. Recent studies identified a precursor/progenitor exhausted T cell subset characterized by TCF-1 expression, proliferative potential, and multilineage differentiation capacity. These cells serve as the critical reservoir that gives rise to intermediate and terminally exhausted subsets, which, although cytotoxic, display high inhibitory receptor expression and limited persistence.
Notably, clinical responses to anti–PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade correlate strongly with the presence and expansion of these precursor/progenitor exhausted CD8⁺ T cells. However, a substantial proportion of patients fail to respond despite tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells, suggesting that the composition of exhausted T cell subsets — not merely their presence — is a determinant of therapy success.
This project aims to expand precursor/progenitor exhausted CD8⁺ T cells through enforced expression of specific transcription factors using targeted mRNA delivery technologies, with the vision of enhancing responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Key Responsibilities:
* Design, execute, and optimize functional and phenotypic assays on human T cells (in vitro and ex vivo)
* Engineer T cells using mRNA delivery platforms via lipid nanoparticles
* Characterize T cell subsets using multiparametric flow cytometry and single-cell omics
* Evaluate T cell stemness, exhaustion signatures, proliferative potential, and effector function (killing assays, cytokine profiling, transcriptomics)
* Perform murine in vivo studies, including tumor implantation, treatment studies, tissue processing, and extensive immune profiling
* Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team, present data internally and externally, and contribute to manuscripts and grant proposals
* Maintain accurate laboratory documentation and adhere to biosafety and ethical standards
* Mentor junior scientists
Your Profile
Required Qualifications:
* Master's degree (M.Sc.) and PhD in immunology, cancer biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline
* Proven expertise in T cell biology, including activation, exhaustion, or immunotherapy
* Hands-on experience with primary immune cell culture and flow cytometry-based phenotyping
* Experience with mouse models, including handling, injections, harvesting tissues, and processing tumor / immune samples
* FELASA or equivalent animal experimentation certification
* Strong troubleshooting ability, scientific rigor, and motivation for translational immunology
Preferred / Desirable Skills:
* Experience with mRNA expression systems, gene delivery, or viral / non-viral engineering
* Familiarity with single-cell (scRNA-seq/ATAC) or spatial technologies
* Background in tumor models, checkpoint therapy, or T cell differentiation
* Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Please submit:
* Cover letter describing motivation and relevant expertise
* CV with publication list
* Contact details of 2–3 referees
We Offer
* Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level
* Remuneration according to TV-L incl. occupational pension plan and capital-forming payments
* 30 days of vacation per year
* Flexible working hours
* Possibility of part-time work
* Family-friendly working environment
* Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket
* Our Corporate Health Management Program offers a holistic approach to your well-being
* Develop your full potential: access to the DKFZ International Postdoc Program and DKFZ Career Service with targeted offers for your personal development to further develop your talents
Contact:
Dr. Ibrahim Murathan Sektioglu
Phone: +49 (0)6131/179816
Duration: The position is initially limited to 2 years, with the possibility of prolongation.
Application Deadline: 12.12.2025
Applications by e-mail cannot be accepted.
Please also note that we cannot return applications submitted by post.
Are you interested?
Then become part of the DKFZ and join us in contributing to a life without cancer!
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.
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Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum | Im Neuenheimer Feld 280 | 69120 Heidelberg |
Company
About the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute and a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. Over 3,200 staff members from 88 nations are dedicated to performing and driving cutting edge research for a life without cancer. Organized in more than 100 divisions and research groups, the focus of our 1,400 scientists is to unravel the causes and mechanisms of cancer development and progression, and to develop novel strategies for the diagnosis, early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer though innovative translational research.
Scientists at the DKFZ have received the most prestigious academic awards, including Prof. Harald zur Hausen, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his pioneering work on Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV),and Prof. Stefan Hell, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on super-resolution imaging.
The DKFZ core site is located in Heidelberg, the “ City of Science ”, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany with a highly international community: An estimated 56,000 of Heidelberg’s 160,000 inhabitants have an international background – many of whom are scientists or students.
Research Topics and Scientific Collaborations
The DKFZ is an international leader in a number of research areas including stem cell research, bioinformatics and systems biology, cancer genomics, neurooncology, pediatric oncology, cancer prevention, tumor immunology, virology, radiooncology and medical image analysis. The interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment at the DKFZ also results in excellent opportunities for computational and data scientists with interest in biomedical applications.
Research at the DKFZ is organized into six research programs :
On the mission for a life without cancer, the DKFZ collaborates with renowned clinical and research institutions at the local, national and international level. A key goal is to continuously strengthen translational research activities with the aim of sustainably advancing state-of-the-art clinical cancer research in Germany and thereby improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life of cancer patients. Together with University Hospital partners across Germany, the DKFZ established the National Centers for Tumor Diseases (NCT) as leading Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Germany, as well as the Hopp Childrens’ Tumor Center (KiTZ) in Heidelberg with a specific focus on pediatric oncology. Within the German Cancer Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), research institutions and university hospitals at eight partner locations collaborate with the DKFZ, the core center of the DKTK, to speed up the transfer of successful cancer research into clinical practice. Furthermore, the HI-TRON in Mainz is a cooperative effort to make full use of the potential of individualized immunotherapy.
Training Programs and Career Development
Talent management and career development are central parts of DKFZ’s mission to maintain scientific excellence. The DKFZ places strong emphasis on the international recruitment and comprehensive training of excellent scientists, specifically welcoming diverse and international backgrounds.
Dedicated programs train young scientists and clinicians and prepare them for their next career step:
The DKFZ has developed programs to support the reconciliation of family and careers at all levels and international employees are supported by the International Staff Services in the planning, preparation and realization of their stay in Heidelberg.
Innovation Management
The DKFZ builds on strong Innovation Management to foster the development of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic products for maximum societal benefit. It facilitates technology transfer through licensing and support of spin-off companies. Recent examples include iOmx Therapeutics, Apogenix and mtm laboratories. The DKFZ also has strong collaborations with industry partners, such as Bayer Healthcare, Bosch, SAP and Siemens .
Company info
Telephone
+49 (0) 6221 420
Location
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
Heidelberg
Baden-Württemberg
D-69120
Germany