Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology

Ref.-Nr. 601-2026
Third-party funding

The Faculty of Medicine is an integral part of the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg and cooperates with the Magdeburg University Hospital A.ö.R. in research, teaching and patient care.

Your Responsibilities:

We are seeking two highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellows to join our team investigating the molecular and cellular organization of the nervous system using cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics approaches. The successful candidates will work at the interface of neuroscience, genomics, and computational biology to map gene expression patterns across brain tissue with spatial resolution, contributing to our understanding of neural circuit organization, development, and disease.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative, well-resourced research environment with access to state-of-the-art spatial profiling platforms (e.g., MERFISH, 10x Visium), advanced microscopy, and high-performance computing infrastructure.

Two positions are available with complementary focus:

• Position 1 — Experimental/Wet-lab focus: Designing and executing spatial transcriptomics experiments on neural tissue, including tissue preparation, probe design, imaging, and data generation
• Position 2 — Computational/Analytical focus: Developing and applying computational pipelines for spatial transcriptomic data analysis, including cell-type mapping, spatial statistics, and integration with single-cell/single-nucleus datasets

(Candidates with strong interest and skills spanning both areas are also encouraged to apply and may be considered for either position.)

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, plan, and conduct spatial transcriptomics experiments on neural tissue samples
• Analyze and interpret complex spatial and single-cell genomic datasets
• Collaborate with neuroscientists, computational biologists, and clinicians within and outside the group
• Present findings at lab meetings, seminars, and international conferences
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication
• Contribute to grant writing and mentoring of graduate/undergraduate students
• Maintain rigorous documentation and adhere to good research and data management practices

Your Profile:

Essential Qualifications:

• A PhD (completed or close to completion) in Neuroscience, Molecular/Cell Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field
• Demonstrated research productivity (peer-reviewed publications and/or preprints)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

For the experimental-focus position, in addition:

• Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g., histology, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, RNA-seq library prep)
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics platforms (e.g., Visium, MERFISH, Xenium, seqFISH) is highly desirable
• Experience with rodent or human brain tissue handling is a plus

For the computational-focus position, in addition:

• Strong programming skills (Python and/or R)
• Experience analyzing single-cell/single-nucleus RNA-seq or spatial transcriptomics data
• Familiarity with relevant packages/tools (e.g., Scanpy, Seurat, Squidpy, STUtility) and statistical/machine learning methods
• Experience with high-performance/cluster computing is a plus

We offer:

• Access to cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics and imaging technology
• A collaborative, interdisciplinary, and supportive research environment
• Funding and support to attend international conferences
• Opportunities for career development, mentoring, and grant-writing training
• Work and family in harmony: Through Klinikzwerge, childcare may be available, subject to availability
• Help protect the environment and enjoy discounted public transportation through a job ticket
• In addition, we offer a diverse range of sports and relaxation activities as part of our workplace health promotion program
• Onboarding: At the start of your employment, you will participate in our orientation program, where you will receive important information and training sessions

Terms and Conditions:

Salary: The salary group E 13 according to “Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder” awaits you

Appointment: The position is to be filled as a full-time position, with a workload of 2,5 years, starting on 2027/01/01

Work Location: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg

Application Deadline: 2026/10/15

For further questions, please contact Mrs. Dr. Julia Rödiger at [email protected]

Your application:

Please submit the following as a single PDF:

• A cover letter describing your research interests, relevant experience, and motivation for applying (max 1–2 pages)
• A full CV, including a list of publications
• Contact details for two–three references

by E-Mail:
[email protected] - (Reference number: 601-2026)

by Post:
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Faculty of Medicine
Personnel Division - Recruiting
Reference number: 601-2026
Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg

If you have an international vocational or academic qualification, your application must be accompanied by a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (KMK). If you do not yet have a certificate evaluation, you will need to apply for one if your application is successful.

The Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It therefore encourages women with according qualifications to apply. Applications from persons with a certified serious disability will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification