Job Offers

The Rudolf Virchow Center is looking for a

PhD student (f/m/d)(Bioimaging / Biophysics)

in the field of whole organ fluorescence imaging

Antibodies are causally linked to the progression of ischemic heart failure. In this interdisciplinary approach, the Molecular Microsocpy Lab led by Katrin Heinze combines high-end imaging and state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques to track the antibody-producing B-cells activated after myocardial infarction and characterize their roles in heart failure. Therefore, we will adjust and develop high-resolution concepts of fluorescence microscopy to analyze heart-specific antibodies as modulators of myocardial infarction. The project largely involves the development of imaging analysis pipelines, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, image analysis and modelling. The project particularly requires enthusiasm for translational sciences, fluorescence microscopy, and computational analysis.

What we offer:

We offer a three years position funded by the Collaborative Research Centre CRC1525 Cardio-Immune Interfaces (competitive TV-L salary) https://www.ukw.de/en/crc-1525/home/ and located at the Rudolf Virchow Center of the University of Würzburg. The position will be initially funded for one year and extended if the evaluation is positive. The earliest start date is August 2026. The successful doctoral applicant will enroll in the Graduate School for Life Sciences (GSLS) in Würzburg and benefit from its extensive transferable skills program, travel funds and administrative support. The Rudolf Virchow Center is a highly competitive international research institute with an outstanding infrastructure. We have in-house access to state-of-the-art instrumentation for nanofabrication and microscopy and to an extensive range of modern biophysical and cell biological equipment. We are integrated into a stimulating cross-disciplinary environment that includes our partners at the comprehensive heart failure centre, the physics department, the Max Planck Research Group in Systems Immunology, the Biocenter, the Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, and the University Hospital in Würzburg. Würzburg is located in the beautiful, wine-growing area of Franconia, in proximity of Frankfurt (1 hour by train) and Munich (2 hours). You will have access to both national and public-service pension schemes (VBL), health care, and 30 days of holiday entitlement.

Your qualification profile:

You have a strong background in biophysics and fluorescence approaches, and a passion for interdisciplinary projects. Ideally, you have experience in quantitative image analysis and/or advanced skills in statistics, programming, and/or quantitative image analysis. Experience in light-sheet fluorescence microscopy is desired, however not a prerequisite. A good command of English is mandatory as you will be working in an international team.

Female scientists are particularly encouraged to apply. Disabled applicants will be preferentially considered in case of equivalent qualification. Applications including cover letter, detailed CV, copies of certificates, and contact information of two referees, should be sent as a single pdf file (no more than 10 MB) via email until 16th of June 2026 to:

Rudolf-Virchow-Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging
Universität Würzburg
Josef-Schneider-Str. 2/Haus D15
D-97080 Würzburg
katrin.heinze@uni-wuerzburg.de

More information: https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/rvz/news/jobs-and-career/

Das Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum - Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging - der Universität Würzburg sucht ab sofort - zunächst für ein Jahr befristet (mit Perspektive auf Entfristung)

eine Technische Assistentin bzw. einen Technischen Assistenten (w/m/d) in Vollzeit.
 

An der Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg kommen über 30.000 Menschen aus mehr als 100 Ländern zusammen, um zu studieren, zu forschen, zu lehren und zu arbeiten. Die Arbeitsgruppen von Dr. Christophe Spahn (Nanoscale Bacteriology) und Prof. Christophe Zimmer (Maschinelle Biophotonik) am Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum beschäftigen sich mit translationaler Biologie, insbesondere Mikrobiologie, und entwickeln hochauflösende Mikroskopie und KI-gestützte Bildverarbeitungs-verfahren u.a. für die Entwicklung neuer antimikrobieller Therapien oder Diagnostik. Diese Forschungsarbeit vereint u.a. Methoden der Zellkultur, Molekularbiologie, Mikroskopie und chemischer/pharmazeutischer Biologie. Für die Unterstützung unserer interdisziplinären Projekte suchen wir zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n motivierte/n Technische/n Assistenten/in.

 

Ihre Aufgaben beinhalten:

Projektmitarbeit bzw. Unterstützung der Arbeitsgruppe, insbesondere durch:

• Betreuung von Zellkulturen (sowohl prokaryotisch als auch eukaryotisch)
• Molekularbiologie und Herstellung bakterieller Mutanten
• Experimentelle Untersuchung antimikrobieller Wirkstoffe
• Koordination des Material- und Chemikalienbedarfs
• Produktion von Puffern, Lösungen, fluoreszenzmarkierten Sonden
• Betreuung der Laborgeräte
• Dokumentation der Zelllinien, Bakterienstämme, Chemikalien und anderen Reagenzien
• Fluoreszenzmarkierung und mikroskopische Analyse der biologischen Proben
  
   

Sie verfügen über:

• eine abgeschlossene Ausbildung zur bzw. zum BTA/MTLA (w/m/d)
• Erfahrung in einem Forschungslabor, idealerweise im Bereich der Mikrobiologie
• Begeisterung für wissenschaftliche Forschung
• Zuverlässige, detailgenaue und selbstständige Arbeitsweise
• Sehr gute Kommunikationsfähigkeit und gute Englischkenntnisse
• Organisationsgeschick und sicherer Umgang mit Zahlen
• Gute Kenntnisse in gängigen EDV-Anwendungen (MS Office, Excel)
• Erfahrung mit Mikroskopie ist von Vorteil aber nicht zwingend erforderlich
  
   

Wir bieten

• eine vielseitige und abwechslungsreiche Tätigkeit in einem internationalen Arbeitsumfeld
• ein offenes und freundliches Team
• einen modern ausgestatteten Arbeitsplatz im Zentrum von Würzburg
• vielfältige Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten
• familienfreundliche Arbeitsbedingungen (u.a. Kinderbetreuung und Ferienprogramme)
• betriebliche Altersvorsorge, 30 Tage Jahresurlaub, Jahressonderzahlung, Mitarbeiterrabatte
• betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung
   

Sie arbeiten in einem zukunftssicheren Beschäftigungsverhältnis. Die Stelle ist zunächst für ein Jahr befristet zu besetzen, eine langfristige Zusammenarbeit wird angestrebt. Die Vergütung erfolgt nach TV-L. Bei im Wesentlichen gleicher Eignung, Befähigung und fachlicher Leistung werden Schwerbehinderte bevorzugt eingestellt.
 

INTERESSIERT?

Bitte senden Sie Ihre Bewerbungsunterlagen mit Angabe des frühestmöglichen Eintrittstermins bis spätestens 07.06.2026 – bevorzugt per E-Mail (ein pdf-Dokument) - an:

Frau Inka Robinson

Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum – Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging

Universität Würzburg

Josef-Schneider-Str. 2/Haus D15

D-97080 Würzburg

inka.robinson@virchow.uni-wuerzburg.de

personal@virchow.uni-wuerzburg.de

Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Bewerbung!

Bitte übersenden Sie ausschließlich Kopien. Aus Kostengründen können die Bewerbungsunterlagen nicht zurückgeschickt werden. Sie werden zeitnah nach Abschluss des

Auswahlverfahrens vernichtet. Sofern Sie einen Freiumschlag beifügen, werden Ihnen die Bewerbungsunterlagen zwei Monate nach Abschluss des Auswahlverfahrens zurückgesandt.

The Nanoscale Bacteriology Lab, led by Dr. Christoph Spahn, is looking for a PostDoc to study the intracellular organization of intracellular pathogens during infection.

Our research focusses on understanding the subcellular organization of bacteria and their response to antimicrobial compounds. We combine super-resolution microscopy (Spahn et al., 2018), drug treatments (Spahn et al., 2025) artificial intelligence (Spahn et al., 2022) and biochemical approaches to understand both fundamental concepts of bacterial cell biology and antibiotic action. Recently, we started to investigate how secretion alters the intracellular organization of pathogens (Ermoli et al., 2025).

In the advertised position, the successful candidate will investigate bacterial secretion during host-pathogen interaction. We will employ a combinatorial approach using live-cell imaging, multicolor super-resolution microscopy and genetics to gain fundamental knowledge about the dynamics of effector protein secretion and the effect on both host cells and pathogens.

Qualification profile:

As a PostDoc applicant, you have completed a PhD in life sciences or related fields.

Essential qualifications

• Enthusiasm for science/basic research
• A strong background in the field of life sciences
• Experience in infection biology and/or molecular biology of bacterial pathogens
• Experience in bacterial and mammalian cell culture
• Experience in advanced microscopy and image analysis
• Curiosity to learn new techniques and explore novel ground
• Excellent team spirit and willingness to teach students
• Fluent English

Optional qualifications

• Experience in programming or with AI
• Experience in biochemistry

What we offer:

At Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, more than 30,000 people from over 100 countries come together to study, research, teach and work. As a central institution of the University, the Rudolf Virchow Center is a modern research center with more than 100 international scientists investigating the molecular causes of health and disease. It has been established as a unique institution for translational bioimaging combining all existing imaging core structures and microscopy facilities.

The Rudolf Virchow Center is a highly competitive international research institute with an outstanding infrastructure. We have in-house access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and to an extensive range of modern biophysical and cell biological equipment. We are integrated into a stimulating cross-disciplinary environment that includes our partners at the Biocenter, the physics department, the Max Planck Research Group in Systems Immunology, the Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the University Hospital in Würzburg.

Würzburg is located in the beautiful, wine-growing area of Franconia, in proximity of Frankfurt (1 hour by train) and Munich (2 hours). We have a lot of sun and many festivals in the summer, as well as impressive historical buildings and recreative nature.

The salary is commensurate with training and experience according to Collective Agreement for the Public Service of German Federal States TV-L (100%).

You will have access to both national and public-service pension schemes (VBL), health care, and are entitled to 30 days of holiday in addition to 13 annual public holidays in Bavaria. Our Welcome Center supports international candidates in finding accommodation as well as in administrative matters - and the University of Würzburg offers support for researchers with children, including flexible working hours and childcare.

The position is secured until end of 2028.

Interested?

Applications including a cover letter, a detailed CV (2 pages max), a short summary of past research projects with publications (3 pages max), copies of certificates, and the contact information of two referees, should be sent via email as a single pdf file (not exceeding 10 MB). Applications will be screened continuously until the position is filled.

The University of Würzburg is an equal opportunity employer. As such, we explicitly encourage applications from qualified women.

Please send your application to:   

Christoph.spahn@uni-wuerzburg.de with Cc to Inka.robinson@uni-wuerzburg.de

If you want to know more about the individual project and/or have further questions about the position, please contact me via the mail above.