Doctoral Student (m/f/div) – Investigation of Autophagy in the Senescence of Heart Cells during Healthy and Pathological Aging

The German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE) is a member of the Leibniz Association. The institute’s mission is to conduct experimental and clinical research in the field of nutrition and health– with the aim of understanding the molecular basis of nutrition-dependent diseases– and of developing new strategies for treatment and prevention (website: https://www.dife.de/en/).

The Junior Research Group Cardiac Aging and Nutrition (CAN) investigates molecular mechanisms of cardiac aging under the impact of metabolic stress and nutrition. The focus is on how proteolysis, especially autophagy, can influence cardiac cell senescence and energy metabolism in the heart, and how nutrition modulates these processes.

The Junior Research Group CAN is looking for one

Doctoral Student (m/f/div)

starting on February 1st, 2026.

Project description:

As part of a project funded by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), the successful candidate will investigate the role of autophagy in the senescence of heart cells during healthy and pathological aging. Comparative analyses will be performed in appropriate mouse models to determine how systemic and cardiac autophagy change during aging and heart disease. At the same time, an analysis of systemic autophagy and senescence markers in human PBMCs will be performed to identify potential differences in the markers during aging and heart disease.

The main points to be addressed are the following:

• Analyzing the potential differences between autophagy and senescence in cardiac cells during physiological aging and in heart diseases (heart failure)
• Investigating the impact of immune cells (macrophages) on cardiomyocyte senescence as well as the impact of cardiomyocytes (in vivo aging and during altered autophagy) on macrophage polarization
• Studying the effect of senescence-associated secretory phenotype of aging non-myocytes on metabolism and function of cardiomyocytes
• Determining whether senolytica affect autophagy in nutrition-mediated premature aging

Requirements and skills:

• Excellent M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in the areas biomedical or nutritional sciences
• Knowledge in molecular biology (immunoblot/ IP, RNA isolation, qPCR quantification, ELISA, etc.) and cell culture (conventional and primary cell cultures)
• Experience with and high motivation for microscopy (preparation and staining [IF, IHC], confocal and fluorescence microscopy, analysis and evaluation)
• Openness to conducting animal experiments; FELASA course desirable, not required
• Experience with hiPSC cardiomyocytes desirable
• Ability to independently analyze data and perform statistical evaluations (e.g., with Prism)
• Very high motivation and willingness for interdisciplinary collaboration in a diverse research environment

We offer:

• Intensive scientific support, close collaboration with cooperating institutions, and enrolment in a local Ph.D. program
• Excellent technical equipment, a wide range of experimental methods, and a dynamic and interactive research environment
• Remuneration according to TV-L, level 13 (65%), plus annual special payment and company pension scheme
• Family-friendly working conditions (certificate “audit berufundfamilie”)
• Supporting of mobility with a jobticket for using the public transport
• Easy accessibility by public transport or car (including free parking)
• 30 days of vacation
• Participation in the benefits program for employees (“corporate benefits”)

The advertised position is available for three years.

We look forward to welcoming a team player with high problem-solving skills, excellent achievements, and a high level of commitment.

We look forward to your application!

Please send your documents (cover letter explaining your motivation, CV, copies of degrees/ certificates, and references) with reference number 2025_W10_AP as a single PDF file before January 4th, 2026, via e-mail to [emailprotected].

For further information please do not hesitate to contact:

Dr. Christiane Ott
Head of Junior Research Group CAN
E-mail: [emailprotected]

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