Group Leader

The LIT – Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (https://lit.eu) in Regensburg, is a biomedical research center focusing on research and development of innovative immune cell therapeutics in the fields of cancer, autoimmunity and transplant rejection.

The DRFZ – Deutsche Rheuma Forschungszentrum Berlin is a biomedical research center of the Leibniz Association that conducts basic and applied research in rheumatic diseases to develop innovative and personalized therapies.

 

Both institutions are engaged in a strategic collaboration to improve the quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases, close gaps in care and open up new avenues in cellular rheumatism therapy – by transferring research into practice.

 

Together, LIT and DRFZ are recruiting a

 

Group Leader (m/f/d) – MF-2025-02

LIT/ DRFZ Joint Group “Experimental Cell Therapy”

 

The LIT and the DRFZ are initiating a joint Experimental Cell Therapy junior research group. This joint venture shall bring together the engineered immune cell therapy expertise of the LIT and the expertise in rheumatic diseases of the DRFZ. The aim of this group is to study and compare novel T cell therapy approaches to treat rheumatic diseases. The studies will include engineered CAR-T cell approaches to deplete B cell subsets as well as engineered regulatory T cells (Treg) to reestablish immune tolerance and induce tissue regeneration. The perspective of these studies is to develop optimized treatment strategies in rheumatic diseases and to bring engineered Treg cell approaches and improved B cell depleting cell products into clinical trials. The joint “Experimental Cell Therapy” group will leverage advanced technologies of synthetic biology, mouse models and human sample cohorts established at both institutions. It will be embedded within the DRFZ and LIT and co-mentored by Prof. Dr. Markus Feuerer (LIT) and Prof. Gerhard Krönke (Charité and DRFZ). The advertised group leader position will be mainly located in Berlin and have presence times in Regensburg.

 

Your tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Establish and head the LIT/DRFZ Joint research group “Experimental Cell Therapy
• Coordinate, design and perform engineered immune cells therapy experiments in models of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
• Establish and develop model systems of rheumatic diseases.
• Raising of third-party funds
• Generating preclinical T cell therapy data for clinical trial applications.

 

Your Profile:

• PhD and/or MD degree with international academic experience and outstanding track record of productivity.
• A strong record of creative, innovative research in autoimmunity, specifically rheumatoid arthritis.
• Extensive experience with mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Candidates should be interested in working in an interdisciplinary team and coordinate the Experimental Cell Therapy Group a collaboration between the LIT and the DRFZ
• Strong organization and management skills and a record of successful applications for third-party funding.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills both oral and written in English.

 

We offer:

• An international cutting-edge research environment that offers exciting and diverse opportunities
• Perspectives for further scientific qualification
• Possibility to visit collaborating centers
• Flexible working hours
• Flat hierarchies and short decision-making processes
• A highly motivated and cooperative team
• Excellent funding situation and state-of-the-art equipment

The remuneration is based on TV-L.

 

The Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy targets to increase the share of women in the workforce. Therefore, qualified female candidates are explicitly encouraged to submit their applications. Moreover, the LIT advocates for the compatibility of family and career.

 

Disabled applicants (m/f/d) with equal qualifications will receive preferential treatment within the recruitment procedure. Please refer to your disability status already in your application.

 

Please note that expenses that may arise in the context of an eventual job interview cannot be reimbursed.

 

For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Markus Feuerer (markus.feuerer@ukr.de) or Prof. Gerhard Krönke (gerhard.kroenke@charite.de).

 

We are looking forward to receiving your detailed application. Please apply via our  Online – Application Portal quoting the reference MF-2025-02.

Application deadline is June 22^th, 2025.