SCIENCE-JOBS-DE

Leukocyte-platelet interactions during ischemic stroke

Subjects: Biology Pharmacy Veterinary Medicine

Topic: PhD thesis / dissertation: Leukocyte-platelet interactions falling on ischemic stroke

Contact: Dr. rer. nat. David Stegner

Reply to: stegner@virchow.uni-wuerzburg.de

Institution: Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg

Location: 97080 Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, D15

Our interdisciplinary research team is investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ischemic stroke, the second leading cause of death and severe disability worldwide. With the help of murine stroke models and transgenic mouse models we identified central components mediating the reperfusion injury during ischemic stroke. The underlying interactions between leukocytes, platelets and the blood-brain-barrier are, however, incompletely understood. One reason is the lack of imaging modalities to monitor cellular interactions within the ischemic brain. Thus, our project within the Collaborative Research Center 688 (http://www.sfb688.uni-wuerzburg.de/) will combine murine stroke models with advanced imaging techniques to dissect the thrombo-inflammatory pathomechanisms underlying ischemic brain infarction. The project will focus on the cellular interactions of platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells in the ischemic brain. Key techniques to image genetically modified (
 knockout and reporter) mice will be light sheet fluorescence microscopy as well as trans-cranial intravital two-photon microscopy.
The PhD student will join the research team of Dr. David Stegner (Department of Experimental Biomedicine, Rudolf Virchow Center) and work in close collaboration with Dr. Katrin Heinze (Bio-Imaging Center, http://www.rudolf-virchow-zentrum.de) and Prof. Dr. Guido Stoll (Department of Neurology, http://www.neurologie.ukw.de). Besides the Collaborative Research Center 688, the student will participate in the PhD program of the Graduate School of Life Sciences at the University of Würzburg (http://www.graduateschools.uni-wuerzburg.de/life_sciences/home/). The highly motivated applicant should be passionate about working in an interdisciplinary team. Experience in animal experiments, and/or high-resolution microscopy would be advantageous, but is not absolutely required. The position is available from April 2014. Female scientists are encouraged to apply. Disabled candidates with equal qualifications are preferred.

Start Date: 18 February 2014

Estimated Duration: 3 years

Payment: TV-L E13 (65%)