The focus of our research group «Infection, Inflammation and cancer» (AG Bénard) at the Translational Research Center, Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, is to investigate the immune mechanisms involved in host defense in infectious, inflammatory and malignant diseases, with the overall objective of identifying novel targets for diagnostic and therapy.We previously showed that improving plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) recruitment into the airways protects from viral pneumonia (Bénard et al., Nature Communications, 2021), a major cause of mortality in the world. pDCs are immune cells playing critical roles in viral immunity by producing large amount of type 1 interferons and by enabling a link between innate and adaptive viral immunity. Your tasks: - The goal of this project is to map the molecular networks controlling pDC recruitment and activity during viral pneumonia and to functionally validate the identified targets. - We will then test whether these hypotheses are relevant in in humans. - We will address these questions using state-of-the-art animal models, various imaging technologies and classical cell and molecular biology approaches. Qualifications: - Applicants should hold a PhD in biology, biotechnology, immunology, or a related field, and have a track record of excellent first-author publications - Excellent expertise in in vivo animal models, flow cytometryandfluorescence microscopy - Self-driven, independent, and creative with strong organizational, and communication skills - Fluency in English Comments: - We look forward to receiving your application including a CV with publications, cover letter, certificates, expected availability date, and 2-3 references. We offer: - A crisis proof job with all benefits of a collective wage agreement, including a supplementary pension from the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL), with us as a systemically relevant employer in the public sector - An interesting job in a team of motivated and open-minded scientists - Careful and qualified induction training - A comprehensive health promotion program - Intended grouping, depending on qualifications and personal requirements, in accordance with TV-L - This is a full-time position Ansprechperson bei Fragen: Julia Dollinger Telefon: 09131 85-39522 Bewerbung an: Universitätsklinikum Erlangen Chirurgische Klinik (AG Bénard) Julia Dollinger Translational Research Center Kussmaulallee 12 91054 Erlangen