PhD Position in Vascular Infection Research and Human Blood–Retinal Barrier Modeling Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Germany

PhD opportunity in Vascular Infection Research at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light and the Max Planck Centre for Physics and Medicine in Erlangen, Germany.

The project, MALVISTA: Engineering a Human Blood–Retinal Barrier Model to Understand Cerebral Malaria, focuses on malaria pathogenesis, host–parasite interactions, vascular biology, and the development of physiologically relevant human vascular models. The lab’s research combines tissue engineering, biophysical approaches, and in vitro modeling to study how Plasmodium parasites invade red blood cells and adhere to blood vessels, contributing to severe disease in the brain and other organs.

The position is funded by the Hector Fellow Academy and will be conducted in collaboration with FAU Erlangen–Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. The earliest start date is 1 November 2026.

Applicants should be highly motivated and prepared to submit a doctoral application package through the Hector Fellow Academy portal. Required materials include a research proposal or letter of motivation, CV, summary of the master thesis, degree certificates, transcripts, and contact details for two references. The portal also notes that English language proficiency evidence may be included if available.

This is a strong fit for candidates interested in malaria, vascular infection, blood–retinal barrier models, biomedical engineering, and translational infectious disease research.