Job ID: 99066

2 PhD Students for the project “Glucocorticoids influence Schwann cells and macrophage responses during peripheral nerve injury”.

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 31 January 2023

Employment Start Date: 1 January 2023

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Ulm

Country: Germany

Institution: Ulm University

Department:

Description:

Two positions for PhD thesis (TVL-13, 65%/ 3 years funding secured) are available at the Institute of
Neurobiochemistry under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Meyer zu Reckendorf and at the Institute of
Comparative Molecular Endocrinology under the supervision of PD Dr. Sabine Vettorazzi.
The preferred starting time would be as soon as possible.

Topic:
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are diagnosed in 2-3% of patients admitted to trauma centers. Although
peripheral nerves have an intrinsic regeneration potential, spontaneous regeneration is limited in humans. Even
after surgical intervention, the functional ability is often not restored, which leads to a severe impairment of the
patients’ quality of life.
In this project, we want to explore new pharmacological ways to improve nerve regeneration. In our previously
published work (Meyer zu Reckendorf et al., Nature Communications, 2020) we identified sphingosin signaling
as promising candidate for the modulation of nerve regeneration ex vivo. Now, we will employ genetic
approaches and glucocorticoid treatment to target sphingosin signaling in vivo using the sciatic nerve injury
model in mice with a focus on Schwann cells and macrophages.

Apart from our mouse model we have the unique opportunity to investigate human nerve samples ex vivo after
injury. In this case, we are interested to analyze how human nerves react to drugs modulating the sphingosin
signaling. Since the initial nerve injury can date several months back until it is recognized and treated, we want
to know if this latency in treatment alters the responsiveness of nerves to drug treatment.

If your are interested please send a cv, transcript of records and names of references until
January 31 st 2023 to the following contact. Please indicate “PNI Schwann cells” or “PNI macrophages” in the
subject line of your application.
Anke Rudolph-Kuhn (secretary), anke.rudolph-kuhn@uni-ulm.de

For any further inquiries concerning “PNI Schwann cells” please contact:
Dr. Sofia Meyer zu Reckendorf, sofia.meyer-zu-reckendorf@uni-ulm.de
https://www.uni-ulm.de/med/institut-fuer-neurobiochemie

For any further inquiries concerning “PNI macrophages” please contact:
PD Dr. Sabine Vettorazzi, sabine.vettorazzi@uni-ulm.de
https://www.uni-ulm.de/nawi/cme/forschung/ag-vettorazzi/