www.leibniz-fli.de
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Job Advertisement
Job-ID
26/05
Application by 26.04.2026

The Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena is a federal and state government-funded research institute and member of the Leibniz Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft). FLI’ s internationally visible and highly competitive research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of aging and associated age-related diseases. Scientists from over 40 countries are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms of aging and the occurrence of age-related diseases. Our aim is to create the basis for new approaches in medicine as a way to improve the health of the elderly (www.leibniz-fli.de).

The Research Group of Prof. Helen Morrison at the FLI invites a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/x) to participate on our research on nerve regeneration:

Postdoc (m/f/x)

Nerve Regeneration

Research focus of the Lab:

The Morrison Research Group is interested in the processes of peripheral nerve regeneration, aging, and pathology. We focus on age-dependent signaling impairments underlying nervous system maintenance and regeneration, and in disease mechanisms for disorders of myelinating cells and nervous system tumors. These disease areas represent a great medical need and our work aims to perform translational work in each area. We use a multidisciplinary approach that includes structural, cellular and mouse models.

Your tasks:

    • Experimental Research: Designing and performing studies with a primary focus on NF2-related Schwannomatosis (NF2-SWM) and associated signaling pathways in Schwann cells
    • Metabolic & Molecular Analysis: Investigating the metabolic regulation and molecular pathology of nerve sheath tumors using advanced cell culture models
    • Cellular Engineering: Conducting specialized cell work, including gene-editing techniques (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9 or siRNA) and high-resolution live-cell imaging
    • Biochemical Characterization: Utilizing protein biochemistry methods (e.g., Western Blotting, Co-IPs, and activity assays) to map protein interactions and intracellular signaling relevant to NF2
    • Animal Studies: Planning and conducting animal experiments to validate molecular and metabolic findings in vivo

Your qualifications:

    • University degree (PhD, M.D., or equivalent) in Biology, Life Sciences, Biomedicine, or a related field
    • Strong motivation and a genuine interest in NF2/Schwannomatosis, nerve regeneration, and the regulation of associated pathways
    • Solid experience in mammalian cell culture (ideally Schwann cells or related types) and standard molecular biology techniques
    • Experience with confocal microscopy and proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., ImageJ, GraphPad Prism, or R Studio)
    • Basic experience in bioinformatic analysis and an interest in large-scale data evaluation
    • Experience in animal experiments is a plus; a FELASA certification is advantageous but not mandatory
    • Excellent teamwork and communication skills; B2 level in German is advantageous

We offer:

    • You will become part of a world-leading research institute dedicated to the biology of aging and have the opportunity to join a very well-equipped Lab with an international team and the focus on nerve regeneration
    • You will have access to multiple state-of-the-art facilities. Our work is embedded in the Beutenberg Campus, an interdisciplinary base for innovative research.
    • The offered position is integrated in the FLI PostDoc Network. The Network promoFutes interdisciplinary collaborations involving clinician scientists, basic scientists, and bioinformaticians and supports career development and postdoctoral training courses.
    • The contract conditions and the salary will be according to the collective labor agreement for public service employees of the federal states of Germany (TV-L E13)
    • Furthermore, we offer flexible working time, a family friendly working environment that provides a healthy work-life balance, company health management including support for child care solutions and dual career options.

Application:

Please apply online through the FLI application portal by 26.04.2026.

FLI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and promotes diversity. It aims to increase the proportion of underrepresented groups in case of equal suitability. All qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law will receive consideration for employment.