Founded more than three centuries ago, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has developed into one of Europe’s largest and most respected university hospitals. It combines clinical care, academic teaching, and biomedical research in one integrated environment.
The institution operates across four major campuses in Berlin and brings together around 100 departments and institutes working in specialized areas of medicine and life sciences. Thousands of scientists collaborate at Charité each year to investigate the causes of disease, develop innovative treatments, and improve preventive health strategies. Its research programs frequently involve partnerships with universities, global research centers, and healthcare organizations.
Within this environment, the ImmunoPreCept Cluster of Excellence aims to deepen understanding of the immune system and how early detection and intervention can prevent serious diseases before they fully develop.
Applicants considering this opportunity should review the core program details carefully before preparing their application.
This program is designed for motivated graduates and early-career researchers who wish to contribute to cutting-edge biomedical research in an international environment.
The ImmunoPreCept initiative aims to explore how immune-tissue networks function in health and disease. By analyzing interactions between immune cells and body tissues, scientists hope to identify early warning signs of diseases and develop preventive treatments.
The concept of interceptive medicine lies at the core of the program. Instead of treating disease only after symptoms appear, interceptive medicine seeks to detect and stop disease processes at very early stages.
Key research areas include:
Participants in the program will collaborate across disciplines such as immunology, molecular biology, genetics, computational biology, and clinical medicine.
Eight PhD positions are distributed across several innovative research themes. Each project addresses a major biomedical challenge and offers doctoral candidates the opportunity to work with experienced research groups.
This project examines how inflamed tissue transitions into cancer. Researchers will investigate the biological processes behind metaplasia and signaling pathways that contribute to serrated colorectal cancer arising from inflammatory bowel disease.
The goal of this research is to define remission states in the bone marrow across different diseases. Understanding these states could help scientists develop methods to predict and prevent relapse in patients recovering from serious illnesses.
This project focuses on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Scientists will analyze how innate immune cells change their behavior during disease regression and identify mechanisms that allow tissues to recover.
Researchers will explore how Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) interacts with the human immune system. The project aims to clarify the transition from normal viral integration to autoimmune dysfunction.
This interdisciplinary project uses advanced genomic tools such as nanopore sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the clonal evolution of invasive lobular carcinoma in human tissues.
Researchers will analyze how treatments for inflammatory bowel disease influence the genomic signatures of intestinal cells using patient-derived organoids and clinical samples.
These projects provide PhD candidates with strong training in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The program also offers five Postdoctoral positions designed for researchers who have already completed their PhD and wish to deepen their expertise in biomedical science.
1. Practice-Based Research Interventions
This project investigates how research engagement can be embedded into everyday clinical and scientific practice.
2. Gastric Cancer Risk Profiling
Researchers will conduct molecular profiling of gastric mucosa in high-risk populations to identify early markers of gastric cancer.
3. Immune-Tissue Networks in Disease Prevention
Two positions focus on identifying homeostatic immune-tissue interactions that protect against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
4. Nuclear Spatial Organization During Inflammation
This project studies how the three-dimensional structure of the cell nucleus influences gene availability and immune responses during inflammatory processes.
These projects provide opportunities for postdoctoral researchers to lead independent studies while collaborating with international teams.
Successful applicants will receive a fully funded research contract with attractive benefits designed to support both professional development and personal wellbeing.
Charité promotes a diverse and inclusive research environment. Scientists from different cultural and academic backgrounds work together, and the institution encourages equality in hiring and professional development.
Employees also benefit from additional perks such as shopping discounts, travel offers, and the JobRad bicycle leasing program.
Applicants interested in the program must meet several academic and professional requirements.
Candidates should demonstrate previous involvement in scientific research, including laboratory work, publications, or thesis projects.
Applicants are expected to show:
Meeting these criteria ensures that candidates can contribute effectively to the collaborative research environment at Charité.
Applicants must prepare and submit the following documents as part of their application package.
All documents should be combined into one single PDF file and written in English.
The application process is straightforward but requires careful preparation of the required materials.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid technical delays or last-minute issues.
Pursuing research in Germany offers many advantages for international scholars.
Germany provides strong funding for academic research and maintains a network of internationally recognized universities and research institutes. Programs such as the Cluster of Excellence initiative support groundbreaking interdisciplinary research.
In addition, researchers benefit from:
These factors make Germany one of the most popular destinations for doctoral and postdoctoral research in Europe.