Independent Group Leader for Epithelial Inflammation and Cancer

registration number:
fb20-0148-wmz-2026

Entry date:
as soon as possible

Application deadline:
2026-09-27

Salary:
up to E 15 TV-H

Duration:
4 + 2 years

Volume of employment:
fulltime

The University of Marburg, founded in 1527, offers a variety of excellent programs of study for around 22,000 students and confronts the important topics of our time through excellent research across a broad spectrum of sciences.

The Medical Faculty of Marburg University and the Mildred Scheel Career Center Frankfurt-Marburg, Campus Marburg, invite applications from outstanding researchers for the position of

Independent Group Leader for Epithelial Inflammation and Cancer

The position is initially offered for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of a 2-year extension following a positive evaluation. The starting date is as soon as possible. Salary and benefits are commensurate with a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H up to E 15/100 %).

The Mildred Scheel Career Center Frankfurt-Marburg (“Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum”, MSNZ) is a program of excellence designed to support early-career researchers and is funded by the German Cancer Aid (“Deutsche Krebshilfe”) as one of five sites in Germany.

This call is explicitly aimed at researchers in the early stages of their scientific careers. The successful candidate will be an innovative scientist who will establish an internationally recognized research program in epithelial inflammation and cancer. This research program should address significant, unresolved, and cancer-relevant questions related to, for example, plasticity, adaptation/maladaptation, or intercellular communication in mammalian epithelial tissues.

The candidate is expected to apply cutting‑edge technologies – such as three-dimensional cell and tissue models, biomechanics, advanced imaging, single-cell analyses, spatial biology, genetic model systems, and CRISPR screens – and to further strengthen the University Cancer Center Frankfurt-Marburg (UCT), as well as the research focus areas of the Medical Faculties at Marburg University and Frankfurt University in inflammation and cancer. Active participation in current and future collaborative research networks, including GRK 2573 (“The inflammatory tumor secretome”), the LOEWE cluster CARISMa (“Optimization of CAR cell therapies by influencing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment”) and TRR 425 (“Desmosome dysfunction in epithelial barriers”), is required.

The research group will be based at the Medical Faculty of Marburg University. A highly attractive start‑up package – funded by the Mildred Scheel Career Center and the Keil Sauer Foundation – will cover costs for personnel and consumables. Well‑equipped laboratory space, access to multiple state‑of‑the‑art core facilities, as well as a lively and highly interactive research environment will be provided. Moreover, the successful candidate will have access to the training and qualification programs of the Mildred Scheel Career Center.

The successful candidate is expected to apply for highly competitive third‑party funding (e.g. ERC Starting Grant, Emmy‑Noether‑Programme). The University of Marburg supports such applications through its grant office.

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent degree in a biomedical subject, have postdoctoral experience and demonstrate an excellent scientific track record.

We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, female applicants will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. As a certified family‑friendly university, we support our employees in balancing family and career. A reduction of working time is possible. Applicants with a disability as discribed in theSocial Security Code (Section 2(2) and (3) of Book IX of the Social Security Code (SGB IX))will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.

Contact for more Information

Prof. Dr. Thomas Worzfeld or Prof. Dr. Elke Pogge von Strandmann

+49 6421-28 65001 or +49 6421 28-21640

worzfeld@uni-marburg.de or poggevon@staff.uni-marburg.de