PhD studentDepartment of Ophthalmology

Start of employment : 01.01.2025 or by agreement,

3 years

The Department of Ophthalmology at the Inselspital is a leading center for state-of-the-art diagnostics, therapy and microsurgery of eye diseases and ophthalmologic emergencies and scientifically associated with the (DBMR) at the University of Bern.

The research group Retinal Remodeling (Prof. Dr. Volker Enzmann) focuses on the employment of Müller cells, the main macroglia in the retina, as potential candidates for replacing degenerated photoreceptors.

Thereby, we investigating the active modulation of Müller cell transition as a pivotal process during degeneration / regeneration and the treatment of the chronic gliosis in mice with anti-fibrotic drugs as we found similarities to wound healing (fibrosis).

Additionally, we have established a human retinal organoid degeneration model where we want to model photoreceptor and glial pathologies to study the role of Müller cell response.

Challenges / project The project aims at

1) pathway analysis in animal models with retinal degeneration (laser, sodium iodate)

2) investigating cell type-associated differential gene expression

3) pharmacological treatment and / or gene editing in regard to the identified pathways

The experimental spectrum of the PhD project will include classic methods in molecular and cell biology as well as in vivo experiments including mice and zebrafish and iPSC-derived or other cell-based systems.

Furthermore, bioinformatic evaluation of the data in collaboration w / computer scientists will occur. Requirements Applicants should hold a master's degree in biology, biomedical sciences, or related fields, preferably with background knowledge in neurobiology and / or cell biology.

Expertise in working with small animal models and bioinformatics would be advantageous. We are looking for highly motivated, interactive and team-oriented candidates with a high degree of self-initiative and inventiveness.

We offer The interesting and challenging project will be performed in a dynamic team and a creative research environment with a broad spectrum of methodology and further advanced training opportunities.

The applicant will join the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB) to complement her / his training.

Application and contact For subject-specific questions and information about the position, please contact

Prof. Dr. Volker Enzmann, [email protected], +41 31 6328935.

Please send your application with the usual documents electronically to the following e-mail address :