The Ruperto Carola University in Heidelberg is one of Europe′s leading research institutions and the oldest university in Germany, particularly known for its world-leading research in the life sciences and medicine. The Neuenheimer Feld Campus of Heidelberg University is the largest campus for natural and life sciences in Germany, where the Faculty of Engineering Sciences bridges material sciences, molecular biotechnology and computational sciences. The modern Campus harbors the buildings of the science faculties and institutes, in direct vicinity to the University Hospital Heidelberg, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Strong interactions exist via the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the medical campus Mannheim, and the Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim. The life science and engineering campus at Heidelberg University offers a network of core technology platforms, with access to various technologies and industry contacts, for which the Cell Networks Core Technology Platform serves as an umbrella structure.

Heidelberg University invites applications for the following full-time positions to begin as soon as possible:


5 interdisciplinary postdoctoral positions for organoid engineering (f/m/d)


The positions are funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS).


Your tasks:

• The position is embedded in the collaborative research aim “Precision Organoid Engineering for Multi-Organ Interaction Studies (POEM)”: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/cctp-poem
• The POEM program aims to generate reproducible, micrometer-scale controllable and cost-efficient disease models by bringing together experts in molecular systems engineering, machine learning, biomedicine and disease modeling. Central to its objectives is the development of methods for culturing tailor-made organoids, assembloids and co-organoids for inter-organ communication towards AI-supported large-scale / high-throughput analyses.

Your role:

• We seek five highly motivated postdocs that will work on establishing assembloid / organoid models for multi-organ interaction studies, using engineering approaches and AI-driven automatization processes.
• The postdoctoral candidates will jointly work on the POEM aims and are each embedded in the groups of two POEM PIs to allow using and developing engineering and biomedical expertise.
• Specifically, opportunities exist for:
  • Development of microfluidic cell assemblies in conjunction with ultrasound biofabrication
  • Development of assembled disease-relevant vascularized cardioid/organoids on-chip
  • Generation, long-term culture and analysis of patient-derived or i PSC-derived organoids in the fields of cancer, neuroscience and cardio-vascular/metabolic disorders; experience in single cell Omics technologies is desired.
  • Development of microfluidic- and robotically-assisted organoid culturing platform; experience with automation, control and fluidics is helpful
  • Machine learning and artificial intelligence for robotic control of organoid culturing; experience with large-language models is a plus

Your profile:

• We seek individuals with an outstanding scientific background which demonstrates their passion for organoid research and engineering approaches.
• Competitive applicants must have obtained an outstanding doctoral degree in disciplines such as (stem cell) biology or medicine, physics, electrical engineering, computer science or equivalent fields and a proven record of high-level research, for example through peer-reviewed publications and conference contributions.

The remuneration is according to TV-L. The positions are full-time positions funded non-permanently via the CZS, employment needs to follow the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (Wiss Zeit VG).


Applications should be sent as a single pdf no later than January 15th 2025 by e-mail to Dr. A. Leibfried (Subject: Application POEM): andrea.leibfried@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de

Please state clearly for which of the positions you are applying and include a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a list of current research support (if applicable), a summary of teaching experience (if applicable), a research summary, an outline of future research interests, a list with 3 or more referees including contact information.


Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.