About us:

Prof. Sarah Hedtrich (currently Tier I Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) will assume the Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at LMU Munich in October 2026 and is now recruiting ambitious candidates to help build a dynamic new research lab at the LMU Munich.

The Hedtrich’s lab mission is to understand and tackle mechanisms of inflammatory and genetic diseases of human epithelia and translate these insights into meaningful therapeutic strategies. We tackle complex biological questions through highly interdisciplinary approaches, working at the interface of pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, and medicine in close collaboration with leading experts across fields. We are building a driven, collaborative, and forward-thinking team, and we are looking for curious, motivated individuals who want to make a tangible impact through cutting-edge research.

The Hedtrich lab is currently looking for motivated PhD students to continue our exciting work on developing locally applicable gene therapies to treat genetic diseases with a focus on human skin and lungs. Our main goal is to develop and apply novel gene delivery and editing strategies (e.g. base and prime editing) to rescue life-threatening conditions with the ultimate goal to provide patients with an effective and potentially curative treatment option for the first time.

We are looking for you:

PhD Student for Topical Gene Therapy (m/f/d) (m/f/x)

in München

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Work on the above-mentioned project topic within the framework of scientific research projects
• Design, plan, and implement project objectives within the respective research project
• Generate insights for the preparation of a doctoral thesis, ideally aimed at translating research findings into therapies for severe genetic diseases of the lung and skin, as well as supporting the research community
• Conduct literature research
• Publish original research findings in peer-reviewed journals in accordance with scientific standards
• Where applicable, supervise and support undergraduate and Master’s students
• Contribute to teaching activities

Your qualifications:

• Applicants must have an M.Sc./State examination degree (or equal qualification) in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, or a related field with relevant experience
• Excellent written and spoken German and English skills
• Experience in (primary) cell culture work and gene therapies is considered an asset  
• Practical experience in biomolecular methods is considered an asset  
• High levels of participation in a collaborative team setting, a high degree of self-motivation, time management skills, and an ability to demonstrate creativity and sound judgment will be required

Benefits:

The position is classified according to the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the German Federal States (TV-L) in salary group E13. Remuneration is based on individual qualifications and experience and corresponds to 65% of a full-time position. The current TV-L salary table can be found here: https://www.tdl-online.de/tv-l/tarifvertrag.html

The position is initially limited to 3 years within the framework of a doctoral qualification.

The workplace is located at the LMU Campus Munich-Großhadern within the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, with excellent public transport connections. You will work in a modern research environment with close integration into interdisciplinary research networks.

LMU Munich stands for excellent research, an international academic environment, and strong support for early-career researchers.

People with disabilities who are equally as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment.

Contact:

For further information, please email: sarah.hedtrich@ubc.ca

If interested, please send a curriculum vitae, a motivation letter, and the names of two referees to sarah.hedtrich@ubc.ca by June 30, 2026.

Where knowledge is everything.

LMU researchers work at the highest level on the great questions affecting people, society, culture, the environment and technology — supported by experts in administration, IT and tech. Become part of LMU Munich!

In the course of your application for an open position at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, you will be required to submit personal information. Please be sure to refer to our LMU Privacy Policy. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have read and understood our data protection guidelines and privacy policy and that you agree to your data being processed in accordance with the selection process.