registration number:
fb20-0148-wmz-2026
Entry date: as soon as possible
Application deadline: 2026-09-27
Salary: up to E 15 TV-H
Duration:
4 + 2 years
Volume of employment: fulltime
The University of Marburg, founded in 1527, offers a variety of excellent programs of study for around 22,000 students and confronts the important topics of our time through excellent research across a broad spectrum of sciences.
The Medical Faculty of Marburg University and the Mildred Scheel Career Center Frankfurt-Marburg, Campus Marburg, invite applications from outstanding researchers for the position of
Independent Group Leader for Epithelial Inflammation and Cancer
The position is initially offered for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of a 2-year extension following a positive evaluation. The starting date is as soon as possible. Salary and benefits are commensurate with a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H up to E 15/100 %).
The Mildred Scheel Career Center Frankfurt-Marburg (“Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum”, MSNZ) is a program of excellence designed to support early-career researchers and is funded by the German Cancer Aid (“Deutsche Krebshilfe”) as one of five sites in Germany.
This call is explicitly aimed at researchers in the early stages of their scientific careers. The successful candidate will be an innovative scientist who will establish an internationally recognized research program in epithelial inflammation and cancer. This research program should address significant, unresolved, and cancer-relevant questions related to, for example, plasticity, adaptation/maladaptation, or intercellular communication in mammalian epithelial tissues.
The candidate is expected to apply cutting-edge technologies – such as three-dimensional cell and tissue models, biomechanics, advanced imaging, single-cell analyses, spatial biology, genetic model systems, and CRISPR screens – and to further strengthen the University Cancer Center Frankfurt-Marburg (UCT), as well as the research focus areas of the Medical Faculties at Marburg University and Frankfurt University in inflammation and cancer. Active participation in current and future collaborative research networks, including GRK 2573 (“The inflammatory tumor secretome”), the LOEWE cluster CARISMa (“Optimization of CAR cell therapies by influencing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment”) and TRR 425 (“Desmosome dysfunction in epithelial barriers”), is required.
The research group will be based at the Medical Faculty of Marburg University. A highly attractive start-up package – funded by the Mildred Scheel Career Center and the Keil Sauer Foundation – will cover costs for personnel and consumables. Well-equipped laboratory space, access to multiple state-of-the-art core facilities, as well as a lively and highly interactive research environment will be provided. Moreover, the successful candidate will have access to the training and qualification programs of the Mildred Scheel Career Center.
The successful candidate is expected to apply for highly competitive third-party funding (e.g. ERC Starting Grant, Emmy-Noether-Programme). The University of Marburg supports such applications through its grant office.
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent degree in a biomedical subject, have postdoctoral experience and demonstrate an excellent scientific track record.
Contact for more Information Prof. Dr. Thomas Worzfeld or Prof. Dr. Elke Pogge von Strandmann
+49 6421-28 65001 or +49 6421 28-21640
worzfeld@uni-marburg.de or poggevon@staff.uni-marburg.de
We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, female applicants will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. As a certified family-friendly university, we support our employees in balancing family and career. A reduction of working time is possible. as discribed in the Social Security Code (Section 2(2) and (3) of Book IX of the Social Security Code (SGB IX)) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.
Please apply by 27. September 2026 using the application-button below.
Please submit your application with the following documents in a single PDF file: Motivation letter; CV; list of fellowships, awards, and third-party funding (secured funding and submitted proposals); research concept; concept for future third-party funding (including the planned research project for e.g. ERC Starting Grant or Emmy-Noether-Grant); publication list; teaching statement; at least two reference letters.