Job Information
- Organisation/Company: University of Salzburg
- Department: Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology
- Research Field: Medical sciences
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 9 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Vienna)
- Country: Austria
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Part-time
- Hours Per Week: 30
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Oct 2026
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme
Offer Description
The Cancer (Epi-)Genetics Lab at the Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology of the University of Salzburg offers a doctoral student position (m/f/div) for 30 hours per week (75% FTE) in the field of non-canonical DNA structure research.
This project will investigate how inflammatory processes reshape the landscape of DNA secondary structures, particularly G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4s occur in regulatory regions such as promoters and enhancers, where they regulate transcription by providing binding platforms for transcription factors. Their formation and stability are affected by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (Lahnsteiner et al. 2026) and DNA methylation (Lahnsteiner et al. 2024), altered during chronic inflammation. The project will analyze tissue-specific changes in G4 formation and epigenetic patterns and determine how these changes contribute to disease-associated gene regulation, with particular emphasis on inflammatory pathways.
Where to apply
Website: https://karriere.plus.ac.at/en/jobs/940e2391-09d9-4bf5-9ce4-4e47b712b650
Requirements
Research Field: Computer science » Other
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- Completed diploma or master's degree in bioinformatics, molecular biology, medical biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline
- Comprehensive knowledge of genetics, epigenetics, and molecular biology
- Excellent command of the English language
- Excellent organizational skills
- Programming skills in R and Python
- Experience with the analysis of CUT&Run, CUT&Tag, ChIP-seq, WGS data or other nextgeneration sequencing data is desirable
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
What we offer:
- A young and motivated research group, where generating new ideas is strongly encouraged and appreciated
- A well-established network of national and international collaborators, offering excellent opportunities for research stays abroad
- An inclusive and supportive working environment
- Enrolment in the Doctoral School PLUS - Biomolecules in Health and Disease, offering a structured doctoral training
- Advanced sequencing methods (based on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore)
- Comprehensive supervision, training, and mentoring to support the successful completion of your doctoral thesis and your development as an independent researcher
We offer an annual gross salary of at least € 52,865.40 for a fulltime position. An overpayment based on qualification and experience is possible.
The University of Salzburg aims to increase the proportion of women in scientific and general university staff, particularly in leadership positions, and therefore explicitly encourages qualified women to apply. In cases of equal qualification, women will be given preference.
- Social and Environmental Responsibility: i.a. bicycle initiatives, art and cultural offerings, sustainability initiative “PLUS Green Campus”
- Comprehensive Financial Benefits: i.a. additional company pension schemes, commuting subsidies, support for the “Klimaticket” (climate ticket), discounts at the USI (University Sports Institute) and the Language Center, numerous corporate cooperations
- Diverse Continuing Education Offerings: i.a. ongoing internal and external training, coaching sessions, Erasmus+ staff training programs
- Life-Phase-Oriented Work: i.a. childcare places for infants, holiday programs, paid lunch breaks, meeting policy
- Health and Preventive Care: i.a. health programs, vaccination and preventive care campaigns, psychological counseling sessions
- Additional Benefits: https://www.plus.ac.at/work/benefits/?lang=en/
Selection process
Applications should include: a motivation letter, a curriculum vitae including a brief description of previous research experience and publications (if applicable), a transcript of records and two references letters from referees of different labs. Documents have to be submitted electronically: https://karriere.plus.ac.at/en/jobs/940e2391-09d9-4bf5-9ce4-4e47b712b650
Website for additional job details: https://karriere.plus.ac.at/en/jobs/940e2391-09d9-4bf5-9ce4-4e47b712b650
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Salzburg
Country: Austria
State/Province: Salzburg
City: Salzburg
Postal Code: 5020
Street: Hellbrunnerstrasse 34
Contact
City: Salzburg
Website: https://www.plus.ac.at
Street: Hellbrunner Strasse 34
Postal Code: 5020
E-Mail: angelika.lahnsteiner@plus.ac.at
Phone: 066280447223