PhD position (m/f/d) Mitochondrial RNA modification

Branche: Gesundheits- und Krankenpfl... Branche: Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege, Rettungsdienst und Geburtshilfe

The University Hospital Heidelberg is one of the major healthcare centers in Germany. Our objective is the development of innovative diagnostics and therapies as well as their quick implementation for the patient. With about 14,000 employees in more than 50 specialized clinical departments with almost 2,500 beds, about 80,000 patients in part-time and full-time inpatient treatment as well as 1,000,000 patients in ambulant treatment are medicated each year.

PhD position (m/f/d)
Mitochondrial RNA modification - driven metabolic plasticity in leukemic stem cells and drug resistance

wanted for the next possible date at the Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology.

For our project “Mitochondrial RNA modification- driven metabolic plasticity in leukemic stem cells and drug resistance“ we are looking for a PhD student. The project is part of the SFB/CRC 1709 “Cellular Plasticity in Myeloid Malignancies: From Mechanisms to Therapies-. In this CRC we will focus on myeloid malignancies as a model to dissect the various molecular mechanisms that enable and regulate cancer cell plasticity in AML. Our overall goal is to pave the way for new cancer therapies.

Mitochondria play a critical role in cancer progression by enabling metabolic adaptation in response to microenvironmental cues, contributing to tumor heterogeneity, metastasis, and drug resistance. Our previous work has shown that mitochondrial RNA modifications facilitate the translation of mitochondrially encoded genes, thereby promoting the metabolic flexibility of aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML).This PhD project aims to uncover how mitochondrial RNA modification pathways regulate stem cell function and influence responses to anti-cancer therapies. To achieve this, we will apply cutting-edge technologies, including nanopore direct-RNA-seq. CRISPR pertubations in primary healthy and malignant cells, Ribo-seq, scRNA-seq, PDX in vivo models.

The PhD student will work closely together with a PhD student in the lab of Prof. Michaela Frye, which will focus on the in vivo experiments of the joint SFB/CRC.

• Job-ID: V000014502
• Field of application: Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Rheumatologie
• Location: Heidelberg
• Start date: 01.10.2025
• Job Category: Science and teaching
• Working hours: Part time (65 %)
• Limitation: Temporary (2 years with option of extension)
• Contract: TV-L