PhD candidate (f/m/d) (65 %) for a duration of 36 months

‘Forschungsgesellschaft für Arbeitsphysiologie und Arbeitsschutz e.V. Dortmund’ (legal entity name) is a research institution institutionally funded by the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the sponsor of ’Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors in Dortmund’ (IfADo). IfADo explores the risks and potentials of modern work in interdisciplinary approaches. We combine the disciplines of Ergonomics, Immunology, Toxicology, Psychology and Neurosciences.

The Department of Toxicology offers a Position as 

PhD candidate (f/m/d) (65 %) for a duration of 36 months

Project description:

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver and represents a major cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries. MASLD can progress to steatohepatitis and, ultimately, to life-threatening end-stage diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

A critical step in the progression from “benign” steatosis to steatohepatitis is bile macropinocytosis. This process leads to the vesicular regurgitation of concentrated bile from the bile canaliculi into hepatocytes, thereby promoting inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis. The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the induction of bile macropinocytosis, determine its contribution to disease progression, and develop therapeutic strategies to inhibit bile macropinocytosis and ameliorate steatohepatitis.

The project is part of a research program recently funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). It involves in vivo experiments using mouse models of MASLD progression and the application of state-of-the-art techniques, including functional intravital imaging, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and gene and protein expression analyses using real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting.

Your Qualifications:

• Master's degree or diploma/state examination in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmacy, toxicology, medicine, or a related field with an excellent final grade
• Willingness to perform animal experiments and to learn microintervention techniques, including different routes of drug administration, microsurgery, and biological sample collection
• Basic knowledge of molecular biology techniques
• Ability to work independently and responsibly, but also as part of a team.
• Interest in learning and establishing new techniques/technologies and presenting data at international conferences
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Aspiration to a research/academic career 

Your tasks:

• Preparation and characterization of mouse models to investigate MASLD progression, including therapeutic intervention experiments
• Tissue and blood sample collection and processing
• Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of liver tissue
• Biochemical analysis of blood samples
• Gene expression analysis
• Data analysis and presentation of research findings at the department seminars

We offer:

• This is a part-time position with currently 25,89 working hours per week.
• Remuneration according to the collective agreement for the public service of the federal states (position value EG 13 TV-L. The classification depends on the collective agreement and personal requirements), from EUR 3.093,59 to EUR 4.397,05 per month, depending on personal qualifications.
• All the benefits of public sector (social) services, e.g., an annual bonus and capital-forming benefits
• Flexible working time models to enable a good work-life balance
• Excellent conditions for developing a scientific career, including in-depth knowledge in the fields of liver research and toxicology; well-equipped cell and molecular biology laboratories, confocal and two-photon-based microscopy, and a mouse facility with various reporter strains of liver cell types; Integration into an international network of leading scientists.

IfADo is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our employees and welcome applications from qualified candidates regardless of age, gender or gender identity, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and worldview, sexual orientation and identity, or disability. 

Applicants with severe disabilities will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified. We actively support the compatibility of work and family life and attach great importance to an equal and inclusive culture of cooperation. 

General information about the IfADo can be found at www.ifado.de.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Ahmed Ghallab (ghallab@ifado.de)  

Interested? 

Then please send your meaningful application documents in a single PDF document and include: 
(CV, letter of motivation, copy of graduation certificates (university) and two references) including the reference code FB Toxi 06/26” until the 30.11.2026 preferably by mail to bewerbung@ifado.de.

Dortmund, 04.11.2026

(*We ask you to submit application documents only by E-mail. These will be destroyed by privacy after expiration of the retention period.)