Recruiting Principal Investigators

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

	Name		Research Area & Project description
	Anne-Kathrin Classen Institute of Biology II / Hilde Mangold Haus		Developmental Biology Projects in my lab focus on how tissues develop properly, grow robustly, and remain healthy. We investigate how epithelia - and, more recently, other organ systems - sense and respond to injury, inflammation, or oncogenic transformation. Using the powerful genetic and experimental tools of the Drosophila system, we integrate molecular, cell and developmental biology approaches to study these processes directly in living tissues. Our research has revealed how cells coordinate proliferation, programmed cell death, and even senescent states to drive tissue regeneration, as well as how intrinsic tissue “surveillance” mechanisms detect and remove aberrant cells. We also explore how different cell populations collaborate to give rise to complex tissue architectures, focusing on remodeling of cell adhesion and actomyosin structures during morphogenesis. Through our work, we offer prospective PhD students an opportunity to engage in projects that unite interdisciplinary research in a living organisms with fundamental questions about how tissues are built, maintained, and protected.
	Laura Ragni Institute of Biology II		Molecular Plant Sciences Root apoplastic barriers shield the plant vasculature from environmental stress by preventing water loss and pathogen entry while regulating gas exchange and nutrient uptake. This shielding function relies on the accumulation of specialized polymers, lignin and suberin. Because these polymers are highly resistant to degradation, they also contribute to soil carbon sequestration. Among them, suberin synthesis and degradation are highly dynamic and tightly regulated by environmental conditions. The periderm is a dynamic, multilayered barrier that covers roots undergoing radial growth. It contains a stem cell niche that continuously divides and differentiates cork cells toward the environment. Despite its importance, periderm development remains poorly studied, and only a few regulators of suberin deposition have been identified. This gap represents an opportunity to engineer protective barriers that enhance plant resilience in a changing climate. Most studies examine stress responses as single events, which does not reflect natural conditions. In this PhD project, the candidate will use innovative suberin bioluminescent reporter lines to investigate how suberin deposition is modulated under combined stresses and how suberin content affects plant performance. By integrating our single-cell data and multi-transcriptomic analyses of roots exposed to salinity, heat, and drought, the candidate will identify and characterize novel regulators of cork differentiation using confocal microscopy alongside genomic and transcriptomic approaches. Ultimately, the project aims to engineer root barriers that enhance suberin deposition under stress and improve plant tolerance.
	Sabrina Schreiner Institute of Virology		Immunology and Virology Deciphering HBx–microRNA Networks in Hepatitis B Infection Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health burden and is strongly associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The viral regulatory protein HBx plays a crucial role in HBV-mediated pathogenesis by modulating host transcriptional programs, epigenetic regulation, and intracellular signaling pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that HBx also alters the expression of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs), thereby contributing to oncogenic transformation and tumor progression. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying HBx–miRNA interactions remain incompletely understood. The proposed project aims to systematically investigate how HBx modulates host microRNA expression and how these changes contribute to dysregulated cell cycle control, DNA damage response, and oncogenic signaling in hepatocytes. Using advanced molecular and transcriptomic approaches, including miRNA profiling and functional validation assays, we will identify HBx-dependent miRNA signatures and define their downstream targets. Particular emphasis will be placed on pathways relevant to hepatocarcinogenesis. By integrating virology, molecular oncology, and transcriptomics, this project seeks to uncover novel mechanistic links between chronic HBV infection and liver cancer development. The results will contribute to a deeper understanding of virus-driven oncogenesis and may identify new biomarkers or therapeutic targets for HBVassociated HCC.
	Heinz Wiendl Dept. for Neurology and Neuroscience, University Medical Center		Neurosciences Decoding the Landscape of Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is defined by its high clinical heterogeneity. Current classification models regularly fail to interpret for progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), which leaves substantial gap in our knowledge on the progression of neurodegeneration despite intensive therapy. This PhD project intends to map the "landscape of MS progression" to identify the molecular and cellular drivers of disease progression. The successful candidate will leverage a unique longitudinal cohort of patients undergoing disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Utilizing a state-of-the-art multi-omics pipeline, the research will: - Map progression paths: Integrate clinical data with multimodal phenotyping of CSF and blood using flow cytometry and NULISAseq proteomics - High-resolution characterization: Employ single-cell RNA sequencing and deep proteomics (Olink Explore HT, 5,400+ proteins) to build a high-dimensional atlas of immune cell trajectories - Systems immunology: Collaborate with the "Small Data" CRC (CRC1597) to apply base models and AI, identifying predictive biomarkers for personalized treatment - Functional validation: Verify findings using high-parameter flow cytometry and in vitro experiments
	Annegret Wilde Institute of Biology III		Molecular Plant Sciences The circadian clock of cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria that perform photosynthesis possess a circadian clock, allowing them to anticipate the shift between day and night and adjust their activities accordingly. This clock in cyanobacteria is made up of three unique Kai proteins. KaiA activates the central protein KaiC, encouraging its autophosphorylation, while KaiB opposes KaiA, resulting in KaiC's dephosphorylation. The cycle of KaiC's phosphorylation and dephosphorylation governs the circadian rhythm of cellular functions. However, some cyanobacteria have more than this typical set of Kai proteins, and their roles are still unclear. Interestingly, the model cyanobacterium we plan to examine in this proposal contains two complete KaiABC systems that are interconnected and can operate within a single cell, underscoring the intricate complexity of this novel circadian system. We propose that the two oscillator systems are linked to different input and output factors, which we aim to identify. Using proteomics and transcriptomics approaches, we will explore whether there are specific elements that interact with only one oscillator or if there are shared input and output pathways. Our objective is to gain a mechanistic understanding of how both oscillator systems interact within a cell and how they regulate circadian rhythms in response to environmental influences.
	Dennis Wolf Dept of Cardiology and Angiology, UHZ, University Medical Center		Molecular Medicine Leukocyte Heterogeneity in Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is driven by the infiltration and accumulation of leukocytes within the arterial wall. While modulation of inflammatory leukocyte recruitment and function can attenuate disease progression in experimental models, the precise contribution of distinct leukocyte subsets remains incompletely understood. Increasing evidence indicates that major immune cell populations in atherosclerotic plaques, including B and T lymphocytes, comprise both protective and pathogenic subpopulations, highlighting a previously underappreciated degree of cellular heterogeneity. This project aims to systematically define leukocyte diversity in murine and human atherosclerosis, with a particular focus on T lymphocyte subsets, including regulatory T cells (Tregs). We combine fate-mapping animal models and optimized protocols for the isolation and sorting of leukocytes from the aorta and secondary lymphoid organs with single-cell RNA sequencing to generate an unbiased map of immune cells in atherosclerosis. The candidate will characterize disease-specific leukocyte populations, validate key subsets using multiparameter flow cytometry, and investigate their functional relevance. In parallel, we will assess whether distinct leukocyte signatures in peripheral blood correlate with cardiovascular disease in human patients. The overall goal is to identify novel immune cell subsets and pathways that may serve as biomarkers or targets for cell-based therapeutic strategies in atherosclerosis.