The Department of General and Visceral Surgery (Head: Prof. Dr. Stefan Fichtner-Feigl), University Medical Center Freiburg offers as soon as possible the position of a
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The Department of General and Visceral Surgery conducts basic, translational, and clinical research at the interface of immunology and oncology with a strong focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and the tumor microenvironment, including microbiome-driven mechanisms, murine and human organoid systems, and cutting-edge next-generation sequencing approaches.
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You will work in an international, interdisciplinary environment together with basic scientists, surgeons, clinician scientists, and bioinformaticians.
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Lead and strategically develop a laboratory program in surgical research focused on oncoimmunology and tumor metabolism in colorectal cancer within the scientific framework of TRR417 (https://www.trr417.de)
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Design and execute high-impact basic and translational studies interrogating the CRC tumor microenvironment, immune modulation, and metabolic crosstalk
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Establish, optimize, and supervise advanced model systems
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Murine in vivo models (including transgenic/knockout lines)
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Human organoid platforms, including murine organoid-driven metastatic CRC mouse models and ex vivo tissue culture workflows
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Oversee high-end next-generation sequencing pipelines
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Single-cell multi-omics (e.g., scRNA-seq and related modalities) and spatial transcriptomics
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Coordinate data generation with bioinformatics partners and ensure reproducible analysis pipelines in line with TRR417 standards
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Build and manage compliant biobanking workflows (solid tissue and liquid biospecimens)
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Drive collaborative projects within TRR417; ensure scientific fit and active contribution to the consortium’s objectives
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Mentor and supervise team members (PhD students, postdocs, technicians); foster an inclusive, high-performance lab culture
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Contribute to grant applications, reporting duties, and high-quality scientific publications
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PhD/Dr. rer. nat. (or equivalent) and completed postdoctoral training
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Proven expertise in:
- Oncoimmunology and/or tumor metabolism with a strong scientific track record; prior experience in colorectal cancer research is advantageous but not mandatory
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Murine experimental models and human organoid systems
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High-end NGS: single-cell and spatial technologies
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Biobanking of solid and liquid specimens
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strong publication record commensurate with a lab leadership role; experience in third-party funding is an advantage
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demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage complex projects, and collaborate across disciplines (wet lab, clinical, and computational)
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excellent communication skills in English; German language skills are a plus but not mandatory
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clear motivation and concept for aligning your research with the aims of TRR417; please outline this fit in your cover letter
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an exciting leadership role in an internationally visible research environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure
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close collaboration with partners in TRR417 across immunology, oncology, microbiology, and bioinformatics
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an interdisciplinary team culture spanning basic scientists, surgeons, clinician scientists, and bioinformaticians
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Employment, salary, and benefits according to the German public sector (TV-L) pay scale
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unless prevented by operational or legal reasons, full-time positions are generally open to job sharing; where candidates are equally suitable, severely disabled applicants will be given priority. Employment decisions are made by the Personnel Department.
Notes:
The University Medical Center Freiburg engages in research, teaching, and healthcare as core responsibilities, aiming to translate cutting-edge science into patient care.
Application:
Please submit your application in English (single PDF preferred) including:
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Cover letter (max. 2 pages), explicitly describing your fit to TRR417 and your lab leadership vision
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CV with publication list and brief statement of contributions to key papers
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Certificates/transcripts (PhD and earlier degrees)
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Contact details of 2–3 referees
General information: Salary is assigned according to a pay scale. Unless prevented by operational or legal reasons, full-time positions are generally open to those wishing to job share. Where two candidates are equally suitable for a post, severely disabled candidates are given priority. Employment decisions are made by the Personnel Department.
