PhD fellowship (m/f/d) in Epitranscriptomics

Application deadline: 15/02/2026

A PhD fellowship (German TV-L 13 65% position) for three years is available starting 1 March 2026 at the Division of Endocrinology (Dept. of Internal Medicine I) of the University Hospital of Würzburg to join a collaborative project focusing on epigenetic, epi-transcriptomic and metabolic modifications on cortisol production in adrenal tissues. Funding is provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the Collaborative Research Program SFB/Transregio 205 „The Adrenal: Central Relay in Health and Disease“ (https://adrenal-research.de), Project A08.

• Attractive salary according to TV-L including annual special payment: We value your work and reward you with a fair and competitive salary.
• Company pension scheme: We support your financial security in retirement.
• Flexitime: Allows you to organize your working hours flexibly.
• Comprehensive company sports programs: Our own gym (Milon circuit training) helps you stay fit and healthy.
• Own company day-care center with extended opening hours (5:30 – 18:00): To help you better balance work and family.
• Extensive training and further education at our own academy: We promote your personal and professional development.
• A demanding, diverse and capable of development
• A good working atmosphere in a highly motivated and collegial team

The successful candidate will utilize a combination of sophisticated bioinformatics tools, advanced optical methods (immunohistochemistry and MALDI mass spectrometry imaging) as well as biochemical assays on tumor samples and cells lines to:

• investigate the impact of epigenetic DNA and epi-transcriptomic RNA modifications in adrenal tissues leading to hypercortisolism
• verify consequences of epigenetic DNA and RNA modifications on steroid output in 3 D cell culture
• impact of the epigenetic modifications on the adrenal metabolic microenvironment using MALDI-MSI

Applicants must have a Master's degree (or Diploma) in bio-informatics, biology, genetics or biochemistry/cell biology. Having already experience in bio-informatic evaluation of RNA sequencing data and/or Epitranscriptomics is a nice to have. Highly motivated applicants are invited from all nationalities and genders. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration when equally qualified.

The applicant will have access to a very stimulating research environment as both a member of a interdisciplinary TRR/SFB and of the prestigious Graduate School of Life Sciences of the University of Würzburg (http://www.graduateschools.uni-wuerzburg.de/life_sciences/).

More about our previous research can be found by reading our publications. Here a short selection: Lopez, …, Sbiera et al., Science Advances 2021, PMID:33571131; Beuschlein, Fassnacht, ..., Sbiera et al. N Engl J Med 2014, PMID:24571724; Assié, ..., Sbiera et al., Nature Genetics 2014, PMID:24747642; Reincke, Sbiera et al., Nature Genetics 2015, PMID:5485838; Weigand, …, Sbiera Science Reports 2017, PMID:28250426; Sbiera, …, Fassnacht Neurooncology 2019, PMID:31222332; Weigand, …, Sbiera, Science Advances 2021, PMID:33608270).

• Challenging, diverse and evolving area of responsibility
• Attractive salary according to TV-L incl. annual special payment
• Training and Continuing Education
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Company daycare center with extended opening hours
• Company sports program
• Flexible Working Hours
• JobBike
• Corporate Benefits

In the case of a university degree from a non-EU country, a long version of the certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education is required.

Remuneration is in accordance with the relevant collective agreements. Severely disabled applicants will be given preference if they are otherwise equally qualified.