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The Children’s Hospital Augsburg (Swabian Children’s Cancer Center) and the University of Augsburg are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in CAR-T Cell Therapy and Therapeutic Target Discovery in Pediatric and Rare Tumors to join our interdisciplinary research program at the interface of pediatric oncology, tumor biology, cellular therapy, therapeutic target discovery, and computational cancer biology. The position is a full-time position which is limited to two years. 

The Children’s Hospital Augsburg (Swabian Children’s Cancer Center) is part of University Hospital Augsburg (UKA), a rapidly growing academic medical center with 1,699 patient beds across 22 clinics and approximately 2,800 employees. Scientifically, the hospital is a member of the NCT-WERA cooperation and thus one location of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT).

Research Environment

  • Single-cell, spatial, and multi-omic technologies are providing unprecedented opportunities to characterize tumor composition, heterogeneity, and evolution. Our research program combines these approaches with experimental tumor modeling to identify clinically actionable vulnerabilities in rare and high-risk tumors
  • Our group has established a strong track record in the molecular characterization of pediatric and rare tumors, including rhabdoid tumors and other embryonal malignancies. Recent integrative studies have provided new insights into the biology and evolution of these tumors and opened avenues for therapeutic translation (Johann et al., Cancer Cell, 2016; Erkek, Johann et al., Cancer Cell, 2019; Fincke et al., Clinical Cancer Research, 2023; Mucha et al., Communications Medicine, 2025; Fincke et al., Nature Communications, 2026, accepted)
  • A central goal of this position is the identification, prioritization, and experimental validation of therapeutic targets in rare entities for which effective treatment options remain limited. Relevant tumor types include DICER1-associated neoplasms, rhabdoid tumors, pediatric and rare melanomas, and other high-risk pediatric malignancies
  • The successful candidate will combine molecular and computational analyses with state-of-the-art experimental approaches. CAR-T-cell therapy will represent a major experimental platform for evaluating candidate cell-surface targets and developing targeted cellular therapies
  • Together with our partner institutions, we are establishing a growing biobank of patient-derived tumor organoids and other advanced tumor models, enabling systematic investigation of target expression, therapeutic efficacy, and mechanisms of resistance, including in vivo

Your Responsibilities

  • Identify and prioritize novel therapeutic targets using integrated molecular, single-cell, spatial, and multi-omic data
  • Experimentally validate candidate targets using patient-derived models, organoids, and cell lines
  • Generate, engineer, and functionally characterize CAR-T cells
  • Develop and optimize CAR constructs and cellular therapy strategies
  • Evaluate CAR-T-cell efficacy and mechanisms of resistance in vitro and, ideally, in vivo
  • Integrate experimental results with bioinformatic and computational analyses
  • Develop independent research projects and contribute to grants and collaborative projects
  • Publish and present research findings
  • Mentor students and junior researchers where appropriate

Requirements

Mandatory

  • PhD or equivalent degree in biology, molecular medicine, cancer biology, immunology, biotechnology, or a related field
  • Hands-on experience in CAR-T-cell generation, engineering, and functional characterization
  • Strong background in experimental cancer or cellular biology
  • Experience in independent experimental research and data analysis
  • Strong interest in therapeutic target discovery and translational cancer research
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills
  • Excellent written and spoken English

Highly desirable

  • Experience with therapeutic in vivo testing of CAR-T cells and/or xenograft models
  • Experience with tumor organoids or patient-derived models
  • Expertise in CAR design, viral transduction, T-cell expansion, flow cytometry, or functional immune-cell assays
  • Experience in therapeutic target discovery and validation
  • Familiarity with single-cell, spatial, or multi-omic approaches
  • Programming skills in R or Python

What we offer

  • Remuneration up to pay grade EG 13 TV-L, depending on qualifications and professional experience, including the standard social benefits provided in the public sector (occupational pension scheme and annual special payment)
  • The position is initially limited to two years; an extension is intended, subject to funding and successful performance
  • An interdisciplinary research environment combining experimental oncology, CAR-T-cell engineering, therapeutic target discovery, and computational cancer biology
  • Integration into the research program of the University of Augsburg, with close collaboration with the University Hospital Augsburg and computational research groups
  • The opportunity to work on rare and clinically challenging tumor entities, including DICER1-associated neoplasms, rhabdoid tumors, melanomas, and other high-risk pediatric malignancies
  • Access to advanced patient-derived tumor models, including a growing collection of tumor organoids
  • Opportunities to develop an independent academic profile, publish, present at international conferences, and contribute to grant applications
  • International collaborations and opportunities for research visits with academic partner institutions

Contact

For further questions please refer to Prof. Dr. Pascal Johann (Pascal.Johann@uk-augsburg.de)

Application Deadline

Please submit your application as soon as possible, latest at the 15th of October 2026.

We look forward to you!

The position is suitable for people with severe disabilities. Applicants (m/f/d) with severe disabilities will be preferred if they are essentially the same aptitude, ability and professional performance. Women are invited to apply in accordance with Article 7 (3) BayGlG. When starting work at the Augsburg University Hospital, proof of sufficient immune protection in accordance with §§ 23, 23a IfSG must be presented or the same must be met.