Research Assistant/ PreDoc

RESEARCH ASSISTANT/ Pre Doc

Division Pharmacology

Head: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dagmar Stoiber-Sakaguchi

Project lead: Dr. Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka

30 hours, 3 year position

The Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL) is part of an academic and research community located at the Campus Krems, and includes a network of teaching hospitals in St. Pölten, Krems, Tulln and Eggenburg. The university offers degree programs in Human Medicine and Psychology which are tailored to the requirements of the Bologna model, opening the door to new, cutting-edge health professions. KL is committed to raising its profile in specific areas of biomedicine, biomedical engineering, and biopsychosocial sciences by entering into strategic academic and research partnerships with other institutions.

From July 2025, the KL offers a 3-year research position at the Division “Pharmacology” (Head: Univ. Prof. Dr. Dagmar Stoiber-Sakaguchi; Project leader: Dr. Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka) in a close collaboration (50% of working time) with the Center for Experimental Medicine, University of Continuing Education (UWK; Dr. Sabrina Summer)

Information on the research project:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by overproduction of myeloid precursors and stem cells. Although novel targeted therapies have been developed, relapse continues to be a significant concern. Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy holds promise to counteract the disease relapse. As AML is a bone marrow-residing malignancy it is especially relevant to understand the interaction of NK cells with leukemic cells in this niche to enhance the effectiveness of NK cell adoptive transfer therapies.

The main aim of this project is the establishment of a 3D coculture system to evaluate NK cell-based immunotherapies for AML in an environment mimicking the bone marrow niche.

The model will be the first to study the influence of mesenchymal stem cells, a crucial regulatory cell type in the bone marrow niche, on AML cell evasion from NK cells.

As the project joins expertise in NK/AML interaction (KL) and 3D culture (UWK), the PhD candidate will spend 50% of the working time at each laboratory.

Methods:

Molecular biology, cell culture, flow cytometry, microscopy

YOUR TASKS

Participation in the research projects

Development of 2D/3D in vitro cell culture models, immunological analysis

Supervision of students

YOUR PROFILE

Diploma or master's degree in life sciences

Interest in science and in conducting a PhD thesis project

Preferred: Background in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology

Previous experience with cell culture and/or flow cytometry will be considered as advantage

Willingness to participate in teaching and mentoring students

Ability to plan and pursue experiments independently

Mobility (other collaboration partners located, Vienna)

Friendly, open appearance and team spirit

YOUR PERSPECTIVE

You can expect a challenging job in an internationally visible and highly motivated

team -we offer flexible working hours, a paid lunch break, health care and many other benefits . The Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences is dedicated to achieving a balanced mix of male and female academic and non-academic staff.

Consequently, applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged. People with disabilities who meet the required qualification criteria are expressly invited to apply and are given special consideration.

The classification is € 2.786,10 (30 hrs) gross per month according to the standard personnel costs and salaries for FWF projects.

APPLICATION

Applications should include a motivation letter, curriculum vitae and credentials.

Please apply online at www.kl.ac.at/karriere with reference number “2511“ by 19.04.2025 at the latest.