The DFG Research Training Group (RTG) “Autoimmune Pre-Disease” seeks to nominate 2 graduate students from the areas of life sciences for DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Programme stipends.

Autoimmune diseases are a major clinical burden, affecting 4-5% of the population. Importantly, causative treatment is currently not possible, often requiring life-long immunosuppression. While treatment is only applied upon clinical disease manifestation, autoimmune diseases develop over years - starting from the loss of tolerance towards self (autoimmunity), which, upon so far unknown trigger factors, may progress to clinically overt autoimmune disease. Unlike in cancer, for which screening for and treatment of pre-disease prevents disease progression, screening for autoimmune pre-disease is far from clinical routine due to the lack of definite biomarkers. However, if sensitive and specific biomarkers for future autoimmune disease could be identified, the clinical manifestations of the disease might be prevented by avoiding environmental factors that trigger disease or by use of therapy that modulates the destructive process before onset of clinical symptoms. Thus, defining and targeting autoimmune pre-disease is the central, and so far, mainly unaddressed, scientific question of RTG 2633 (Spokesperson: Prof. Ralf Ludwig).

The RTG investigates Autoimmune Pre-Disease in a multidisciplinary setting: Principal investigators are from basic sciences, such as Immunology, Genetics, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Systems Medicine, Anatomy, and Nutrition Medicine, as well as from clinical specialties, such and Dermatology and Rheumatology. Experimentally, the RTG focuses on rheumatic diseases and autoimmune skin diseases, such as pemphigus and pemphigoid. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) additionally supports the RTG 2633 with the following 2 projects for which we are looking for highly motivated people: 

PhD D1 : PD Dr. Bieber: Age-dependent development of autoimmunity 

PhD D2 : Prof. Schmidt/ Dr. Patzelt: Drug-induced development of autoimmunity 

Detailed information on individual projects on request (katja.bieber(at)uksh.de (PhD D1) and sabrina.patzelt(at)uksh.de (PhD D2). 

We are seeking to recruit candidates with a strong interest in translational immunological research. Preference will be given to candidates experienced in experimental disease models. The University of Lübeck offers equal opportunity for employers. Applications from female candidates are strongly encouraged. In case of compatible qualifications, preference will be given to people with disabilities. 

In addition to their project-related work, students of the RTG will benefit from a structured qualification and mentoring program. 

The scholarship amounts to 1300€, travel allowance, payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover, research allowance (€ 460 per year (for scholarship holders from countries listed in the DAC List of ODA recipients), or € 260 per year (for scholarship holders from other countries) and, possible support with rent. 

Please note that each DAAD scholarship in this programme comprises funding for up to four years.

The following documents are to be submitted in German or English: 

• A curriculum vitae

• A letter of motivation (optional)

• Bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates and certificates of annual examinations taken at the home 

• University (transcript of records) including grades and explaining the home university’s grading system (explanation of grading system) 

• Documents certifying knowledge of the foreign language required by the graduate school

• Any documents certifying completed practical work (internship etc. - optional)

• A list of publications (optional)
 

Application Requirements 

• At the time when DAAD receives the nomination letter, applicants should not have graduated any longer than six years before the time of nomination. 

• At the time when DAAD receives the nomination letter, applicants must not have been resident in Germany for more than the last 15 months prior to the nomination. 

• At the starting date of the scholarship/preparatory German course, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent. 

• Applicants must not have completed a PhD previously. 

After successful completion of the program and depending on the initial degree of the student, the following degrees can be awarded: Dr. rer. nat., PhD and Dr. hum. biol. It is planned to start the projects February 2025.

We are looking forward to your application. Please submit your application until 25.10.2024.

Application deadline: 1 February 2025

• Starting date: 1 April 2025 for a total of 6 - 12 months.
• Medical students qualify
• Application open, information on projects and principal investigators on this website
• Submit application (with project description minimum 3 maximum 5 pages) to Laura Kirchhoff in one PDF (Laura.Kirchhoff(at)uksh.de)

Application must include:

1. Letter of motivation
2. Project description (in consultation with your potential supervisor)
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Abitur certificate or equivalent
5. University certificates, incl. physicum grade

Template Project description