Open PhD Student Position – Organoid & Tubuloid Models in Kidney Adaptation (ERC-funded)

Apr 20, 2026
BALZER LAB is hiring a PhD student

Employer
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), and Kiel University (CAU)

Location
Kiel, Germany

Salary
TV-L E13 (65%); ~37,000/year + full social security coverage (healthcare, pension, paid leave)

Contract duration
3 years

Closing date
June 1, 2026

We are seeking a PhD student to join the ERC Starting Grant project SINGuLAR (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101219388) at the Balzer Lab (https://balzer-lab.org), investigating how human kidneys adapt to organ loss.

Our lab studies how human kidneys regenerate after organ loss using cutting-edge single-cell and translational approaches. Rather than focusing on injury, this project investigates pure adaptation in living kidney donors—a unique human model in which individuals lose 50% of kidney mass yet show remarkable compensatory growth.

You will contribute to building the first longitudinal single-cell and spatial atlas of human kidney adaptation, while establishing complementary patient-derived organoid and tubuloid models. In this role, you will focus on developing and applying experimental systems to functionally interrogate adaptation mechanisms identified through multi-omic analyses. Specifically, you will establish tubuloid cultures from patient samples, systematically expand and biobank these models, and perform molecular and functional characterization. You will work closely with other team members generating single-cell and spatial datasets, enabling the integration of in vitro models with human in vivo data. Over the course of your PhD, you will initiate mechanistic and validation studies, with increasing independence.

Requirements

We are looking for candidates with a strong interest in organoid/tubuloid systems, kidney biology, and/or single-cell biology, and a willingness to develop skills in bioinformatics analysis and data integration.

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in molecular biology, cell biology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, or a related field
  • Experience with cell culture, organoids, or primary cell systems is highly desirable
  • Experience or interest in functional and mechanistic studies in human-derived model systems
  • Basic programming skills in R and/or Python (or willingness to learn)
  • Interest in or willingness to engage in computational analysis (single-cell workflows)
  • Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment, with growing independence over time
  • Excellent English communication skills

What We Offer

  • A **3-year PhD position (TV-L E13, 65%, ~37,000 EUR/year) within an ERC Starting Grant-funded position
  • Extensive social benefits (health insurance, pension scheme, paid leave, and strong employee protections typical of the German public sector)
  • A high-risk/high-reward project addressing a fundamental question in human biology
  • Access to state-of-the-art single-cell and spatial omics technologies
  • A collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment bridging clinic and computation
  • Structured supervision and training, with strong support for skill development, publications, and career progression

Environment

You will work at the interface of Kiel University (CAU) and the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), one of Germany’s leading academic medical centers. The research environment includes close collaboration with the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) and the Competence Centre for Genomic Analysis (CCGA), providing access to cutting-edge genomics infrastructure and expertise. Kiel hosts multiple Excellence Clusters (including Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation) and Collaborative Research Centers (SFBs), offering a highly interactive ecosystem connecting basic science, computation, and clinical research.

You love science and the outdoors? This place is for you! Kiel is a vibrant coastal city on the Baltic Sea, known as one of Germany’s premier sailing hubs, with immediate access to sailing, kayaking, swimming, and waterfront living. The surrounding region offers extensive cycling routes, running trails, and green spaces. With a welcoming international community, short commutes, and a high quality of life, Kiel combines a dynamic academic environment with a relaxed, nature-oriented lifestyle.

Application

If you are passionate about understanding and ultimately harnessing the mechanisms of human kidney adaptation, we would love to hear from you.

Please send your CV, letter of motivation, and contact details of two references to Prof. Michael S. Balzer (MichaelSoeren.Balzer@uksh.de).