PhD Position / Doctoral Research Associate (Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in, Salary level E 13 TV-L, 65%)

Creating knowledge. Making a difference. Shaping the future. This is what the University of Münster stands for as one of the strongest research-oriented universities in Germany and one of the largest employers in the region. Every day, over 7,000 employees devote themselves to cutting-edge research and excellent teaching. We share more than a workplace. We share the desire to make a real impact – regionally and internationally. Our day-to-day work is distinguished by diversity, openness and space to pursue one’s ideas. Become a part of our team – in academia, a technical or manual trade, or administration.

The Group of Quantitative Cell Biology at the Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of Münster, Germany, is seeking to fill the position of a

at the earliest possible date. We are offering a fixed-term part-time position (65%) for initially 3 years. Full time employees are required to teach 4 hours per week during the semester.

Your tasks:

• The position is linked to a doctoral project. Interested applicants are invited to join an interdisciplinary research team of molecular biologists, cell biologists and biophysicists.
• In the project, you will learn and apply a range of innovative molecular biology approaches (e.g., Crispr Cas9 and biosensor development) as well as quantitative fluorescence microscopy techniques (e.g., FLIM-FRET microscopy and optomechanics) to investigate the biology of mammalian cell adhesion mechanics and intracellular force propagation in epithelia
• The work will be accompanied by participation in a structured graduate program to gain additional qualifications during your doctoral studies.

Our expectations:

• The prerequisites are excellent grades and a completed master’s degree in the life sciences such as biology, molecular biology, and biomedicine or in other biology-oriented disciplines of physics and chemistry (e.g., biophysics, biochemistry, and life sciences
• Skills in independent scientific work in the context of an experimental master’s thesis are required.
• English language skills, both written and spoken, are expected.

Selected publications of previous PhD projects include: Sadhanasatish, T. et al. Science Advances (2023); Fischer, L.S. et al. Nature Commun (2021); Kanoldt, V. et al. Nature Commun (2020); Ringer, P. et al. Nature Methods (2017); Austen, K. et al. Nature Cell Biol (2015).

Advantages for you:

The University of Münster strongly supports equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions.
We actively encourage applications by women. Women with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered unless these are outweighed by reasons which necessitate the selection of another candidate.

Are you interested? Then send your application including a CV, relevant certificates, and a letter of motivation in PDF format to: grashoff@uni-muenster.de by 2026-08-28.

Reference number: 2026_07_69