PhD Position/ Scientific Employee (m/f/d) (1207)

Institution: Department für Kopf- und Zahnmedizin, Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie

Type of employment: Fixed-term position for 3 years (third-party funded) 

Working Hours: part-time (26,00h)

Start date: 01.12.2026

Remuneration: TV-L 13

About us – the Faculty of Medicine

With a tradition spanning more than 600 years, the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University is one of the largest research institutions in the Leipzig region. With more than 1.300 employees, it is the largest of the university’s 14 faculties and provides training for approximately 3,500 students in human medicine and dentistry as well as pharmacy and midwifery. The Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1415, making it one of the oldest medical faculties in Germany with an unbroken tradition of teaching

PhD Position - Craniofacial Biology and PTEN-Dependent Tissue Homeostasis

The research group “Cranio- and Orofacial Development” (https://research.uni-leipzig.de/petersen_lab/) at Leipzig University Medical Center (UKL) offers a PhD position within a DFG-funded collaborative project investigating PTEN-dependent craniofacial tissue homeostasis. The project is particularly suited to candidates interested in craniofacial and skeletal biology, molecular signaling, spatial omics, and metabolism.

Project Background

PTEN is a central regulator of PI3K-AKT signaling and coordinates cell growth, metabolism, and tissue homeostasis. The project investigates how loss of PTEN in the osteoblast lineage alters the postnatal craniofacial complex. The PhD project will focus on teeth and their supporting periodontal tissues, alveolar and craniofacial bone, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Using an inducible postnatal genetic mouse model, we aim to determine how PTEN-dependent signaling changes tissue architecture, bone remodeling, cellular states, and molecular programs. A complementary part of the project will investigate the associated adipose/metabolic phenotype in close collaboration with Dr. Antje Garten and her group from the Molecular Endocrinology at the Center for Pediatric Research (https://research.uni-leipzig.de/garten_lab/).

The PhD candidate will investigate

• PTEN-dependent changes in teeth and periodontal tissues, craniofacial and alveolar bone, and the TMJ
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying altered bone remodeling and craniofacial tissue homeostasis after postnatal PTEN deletion
• Spatially resolved tissue responses and their relationship to PTEN-associated adipose/metabolic changes

Methods and Approaches

The project combines state-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques, including:

• Inducible transgenic mouse models and genetic reporter systems
• Histology, immunofluorescence, advanced microscopy, and micro-computed tomography
• Spatial transcriptomics of dental, periodontal, bone, and TMJ tissues
• Molecular biology, quantitative image analysis, proteomic integration, and bioinformatic analyses

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• Master of Science degree or a Diploma in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics or Chemistry
• Interest in craniofacial biology, mechanobiology, or regenerative medicine
• Experience in molecular biology, cell biology, animal models, and/or bioinformatics
• Strong motivation to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
• Good communication skills and proficiency in English

Research Environment

The project is embedded in the Department of Orthodontics at Leipzig University Medical Center. Our research focuses on craniofacial biology, tooth and periodontal tissue homeostasis, skeletal remodeling, genetic mouse models, advanced imaging, and spatial omics. The collaboration with Dr. Antje Garten provides complementary expertise in PTEN biology, metabolism, and adipose tissue, enabling the PhD candidate to connect local craniofacial phenotypes with systemic metabolic alterations.

We Offer

• A fully funded PhD position (3 years)
• Participation in an international research collaboration
• Access to cutting-edge technologies, including spatial transcriptomics and advanced imaging
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment
• Opportunities for international exchange and conference participation

How to apply

Please apply with a single PDF containing a cover letter describing your previous research experience and motivation to join our lab; curriculum vitae; copies of relevant qualifications (degree, diploma and, if applicable, animal-course certificates); and the contact details of two referees

Your contact person

For further information about the application process, please contact Dr. Julian Petersen (E: Julian.Petersen@medizin.uni-leipzig.de).

Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified. Please include relevant supporting documentation with your application.

Please note that, due to legal requirements, we can only employ applicants who are immune to measles. You will be required to provide the relevant proof of immunity.

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