Research Assistant or PhD candidate at LPI in Jena bei Leibniz Institut für Photonische Technologien e V

Research Assistant or PhD candidate at LPI in Jena

The Leibniz Centre for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI) is a project of the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As one of the supporting institutions of the LPI, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technologies (Leibniz-IPHT) is looking to recruit

Research Assistant or PhD candidate

starting on August 1, 2024 or at the earliest possible date for 2 years full time (100%) with PhD degree or 3 years part time (65 %) with master's degree.

An extension might be discussed if suitable.

The LPI is being established by a consortium of four supporting institutions (Leibniz-HKI, Leibniz-IPHT, FSU Jena, Universitätsklinikum Jena) In future, it will combine photonic technologies with infection research and thus contribute to the development of new methods for diagnosis, monitoring and therapy for human medicine. Research results will be transferred to clinical practice along the entire value chain. The LPI's research program is divided into basic technologies, in which the four supporting institutions jointly address various scientific and technological focal points in an interdisciplinary approach. As a user-open translational infrastructure, LPI makes newly developed demonstrators and methods available to external partners within the framework of joint projects.

Mid-infrared lasers enable optical detection principles based on the photothermal effect. We used an optical photothermal infrared microscope to screen single cells in aqueous buffer at subcellular resolution (doi 10.1039/d3an00902e). A prototype for widefield optical photothermal infrared sensing has been developed at Leibniz-IPHT. Furthermore, a Fourier transform infrared microscope with array detector and a quantum cascade laser-based infrared microscope are installed in our laboratory. The goal of the position to be filled is to apply infrared microscopic platforms for research in infectious diseases. This includes studies of bacteria, cells and tissues from clinical partners, partly in laboratories with S2 safety level.

Your tasks:

• Elaborate standardized protocols for infrared-based studies of bacteria, cells and tissue sections
• Sample preparation in close collaboration with clinical partners
• Plan and perform scientific studies with high throughput acquisition of IR images and spectra
• Coordinate compilation of metadata and transfer of IR data to data science partner
• Process IR data for visualization and reporting

We expect:

• PhD or master's degree in natural / life sciences or related
• Expert knowledge in biomedical IR spectroscopy
• Excellent organization and communication skills
• Very good command of written and spoken English

We offer:

• Your contribution to a globally unique infrastructure: The LPI will be a globally unique infrastructure for the development of market-ready solutions: The LPI closes the gap from application research to marketable products. Become part of the initiation team that is building this infrastructure.
• An integrative and interdisciplinary work environment: As an LPI employee, you can translate cutting-edge photonic technologies into infection-fighting products in an interdisciplinary team spanning physics, biochemistry, technology, data science and medical sciences. The LPI brings excellent research, technology development and everyday clinical practice into close proximity.
• Focusing efforts on the unmet medical need to successfully fight infections: Photonic technologies in combination with microfluidics, micro- and nanotechnologies, biotechnology, molecular techniques and artificial intelligence will revolutionize diagnostics and companion diagnostics for alternative therapies. At LPI, compact devices for the rapid and clear diagnosis of infections and new therapeutic approaches (e.g. with new anti-infectives, cell-based therapies and nanoparticles) are being researched and developed.
• World-class equipment and facilities: The Leibniz IPHT offers a large variety of physics, chemistry, and biology labs at highest standards. Moreover, it holds state-of-the-art fiber-drawing and clean-room facilities (incl. lithography units), as well as microfluidics fabrication and big data computing units. Simply everything your interdisciplinary heart beats for.
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: parent-child room, campus kindergarten places, family events etc.
• Flexible working time models, 30 days vacation/year, special annual payment, bridging d