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International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz, Institute of Molecular Biology

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PhD Position: Regulatory T (Treg) Cell Fitness International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz in Germany

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Inflammation

Funding

Available

Deadline

Oct 15, 2026

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Country

Germany

University

International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz, Institute of Molecular Biology

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Keywords

Inflammation
Immunology
Biology
Medical Science
Transcriptional Regulation
T Cell Biology
Autoimmunity
Epigenetic
Regulatory T Cells

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About this position

The International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz is offering a fully funded PhD position in the life sciences at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Mainz, Germany. The project is part of an interdisciplinary and international PhD environment and is hosted by the research group of Ilgiz Mufazalov in collaboration with Ari Waisman.

The advertised project focuses on regulatory T (Treg) cell fitness during inflammation, with particular emphasis on how interleukin-6 (IL-6) shapes Treg cell function, survival, and stability. Treg cells are essential for maintaining peripheral immune tolerance and preventing excessive inflammation, and their role in controlling autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is a major topic in modern immunology. The project is motivated by the observation that IL-6 signaling may influence Treg cell development and their ability to persist and function in inflammatory environments.

Research activities will use mouse models with cytokine overproduction or cytokine/receptor deficiency, together with spontaneous and experimentally induced inflammatory models. The PhD student will perform Treg cell transfer experiments and investigate survival, stability, and suppressive function of Treg cells under inflammatory conditions. The methodological toolkit includes multicolor flow cytometry (FACS), mouse immunology, T-cell biology, and sequencing-based approaches to identify transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying Treg cell adaptation.

This is a strong immunology-oriented PhD project with excellent training opportunities in experimental mouse immunology, molecular approaches, and advanced core facility techniques. The programme offers an English-speaking international research environment, advanced scientific and professional training, and access to state-of-the-art core facilities. Applicants should have a Master’s degree or equivalent, good English skills, an interactive personality, and two letters of reference.

The application deadline is 15 October 2026, and interviews are scheduled for 18–19 January 2027 at IMB in Mainz. The expected start date is between 1 February and 31 July 2027. Candidates interested in this project should apply through the IPP Mainz online application form and select the Mufazalov/Waisman group preference.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field is required. Applicants should have a good command of English, be an interactive personality, and provide 2 letters of reference.

How to apply

Apply online via the IPP Mainz application platform using the apply button. Select Mufazalov/Waisman as your group preference in the application. Submit the required reference letters before the deadline.

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