The Faculty of Medicine at Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg (JMU) and the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) are inviting applications for two Junior Professorships (W1, f/m/d) in the rapidly developing field of RNA research.
The positions are aimed at promising early-career scientists who want to build an independent research profile at the intersection of RNA biology, infection research and medicine. The successful candidates will be appointed as junior professors at the University of Würzburg and will simultaneously be assigned to HIRI in Würzburg.
The appointments will initially be made for three years and may be extended up to a total of six years following a positive interim evaluation. After a successful final evaluation, a permanent position as a research group leader at HIRI may be offered.
HIRI was jointly established by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the University of Würzburg in 2017. The institute brings together RNA research and infection biology and provides an international, interdisciplinary research environment with access to modern scientific infrastructure.
1. RNA-Based Infection Research
This area focuses on RNA-related mechanisms in human bacterial or viral infections and the associated immune responses.
Researchers working on molecular mechanisms of infection, host-pathogen interactions, microbial RNA or RNA-mediated immune responses may find this area particularly relevant.
2. Microbial RNA Biology
This position covers the broad field of microbial RNA biology, including research across bacterial diversity and bacteriophages.
The institute is particularly interested in research exploring the application potential of new molecular complexes in which RNA plays a key role.
This makes the position potentially attractive to researchers working at the intersection of microbiology, phage biology, RNA biology and molecular mechanisms.
3. RNA-Based Medicine
This area focuses on RNA as a target, effector or lead molecule for therapeutic applications.
Relevant areas include:
- Therapeutic mRNA
- CRISPR-Cas-based therapies
- RNA-targeted approaches
- Translational RNA medicine
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidates will contribute to teaching and represent RNA-based infection research within the university’s academic programmes.
The University of Würzburg places particular importance on the supervision and mentoring of students and doctoral candidates.
The role will also involve:
- Developing an independent research programme
- Building collaborations within the university and HIRI
- Securing external research funding
- Participating in academic self-administration
- Contributing to biomedical and translational research programmes
Qualifications & Skills Required
Applicants should normally have:
- A university degree in biology, chemistry, human medicine or a comparable discipline
- An outstanding doctoral degree or comparable qualification
- Demonstrated excellence in scientific research
- An internationally visible research profile appropriate to their career stage
- Strong knowledge of laboratory techniques and molecular biology workflows
- A strong interest in RNA-based infection research
- Interest or experience in modern RNA technologies, including techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing
- Leadership and team-management experience
- Excellent written and spoken English
- A proactive and independent approach to research
The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to research, teaching, supervision of students and doctoral researchers, academic administration and the acquisition of third-party research funding.
Important Eligibility Requirement
There are specific career-stage requirements for this position.
Applicants should be at an early stage of their academic career and must have changed university after completing their doctorate. If the doctorate was completed at the University of Würzburg, the applicant must have worked academically outside the University of Würzburg for at least two years.
In addition, no more than four years should normally have passed between the award of the doctorate and the end of the application period. For applicants in medicine or clinical psychology, the maximum period is seven years.
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