12 PhD Positions, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany (2017)

The DFG-funded Research Training Group (GRK 2318) “TJ-Train” at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, offers 10 PhD positions at Charité, 1 PhD position at Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin, and 1 PhD position at Leibniz-Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) Berlin.

The Research Training Group TJ-Train aims at analyzing different aspects of tight junctions in 3 distinct project areas.

The tight junction (TJ) connects neighbouring epithelial or endothelial cells and is the central element of barrier function, as it controls paracellular passage of solutes and water. The TJ protein composition varies greatly in different tissues and determines the tightness and selective permeability. TJs underlie extensive extra- and intracellular signaling, but also regulate epithelial functions and cellular differentiation. Furthermore, numerous TJ proteins serve as receptors for certain pathogens. Thus, TJ proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Alterations in TJ composition and architecture may cause for instance unwanted leak flux or antigen passage and may thus maintain disease activity or even directly trigger disease onset.

Project area A is focused on basic research on structure and function of TJ proteins, which provides the requirement for understanding TJ development and regulation and its role in pathogenesis of diseases. The investigations on structure and function of TJ molecules comprise state-of-the-art molecular biological techniques, advanced electrophysiological methods, water transport measurements, and super resolution microscopy.

Further details:
http://www.researchgate.net