Owing to the successful application to the German federal-state programme for promoting early-career researchers (tenure-track programme), the Faculty of Medicine invites applications for a
The position is offered with the earliest possible starting date for a period of six years pursuant to § 64 Para. 3 and 4 Hessian Higher Education Act (HHG) in non tariff employment. According to § 64 Para. 3 HHG, the applicant should have gained a doctoral degree at an institution of higher education other than Justus Liebig University (JLU) or have been in academic employment at an institution other than JLU for at least two years after conferral of a doctoral degree. The duration of said post-doctoral employment may not exceed four years or, in the case of successful completion of further academic training pursuant to § 62 Para. 6 HHG, may not exceed seven years. In the case of successful completion of the six-year W1 position, which is to be assessed in an evaluation procedure pursuant to § 64 Para. 2 HHG, the appointment will be converted into a permanent W2 professorship. Proficient knowledge of German is expected.
Duties
The future holder of the position will assume leadership of a working group and focus on a basic scientific and translational research portfolio in Rheumatology at the Kerckhoff Clinic. She/He will also be involved in current and planned research alliances of JLU’s Faculty of Medicine. These include projects investigating the role of synovial fibroblasts in chronic inflammatory joint diseases. Projects will also focus on the differentiation of bone cells and cells near the bone through metabolic and inflammation regulatory molecules, including adipokines as well as projects investigating a connection between the metabolism and chronic inflammation and the influence of a “low-grade” inflammation in adipositas, insulin resistance on chronic model inflammation, e.g. arthritis, in various in vitro and in vivo models. Another task will be to investigate the influence of systemic inflammatory and bone-derived factors (e.g. by chronic inflammation of the bone and infections) on the interaction of stromal cells and the endothelium/endothelial cells in the joint and on other organ systems.
During the qualification period, the future holder of the position will be required to take on curricular teaching duties of 4 semester hours per week in the preclinical sections of the Medicine and Dentistry study programs. During employment at JLU, the candidate should integrate gender aspects in research and teaching and is expected to successfully acquire external research funds.
It is expected that the applicant will get involved in university and department-wide collaborative projects and that she/he will closely cooperate with the Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL), be involved in several programs including “JLU-TRAINEE”, a structured graduate program, and “JLU-CAREER”, a clinician scientist program in Biomedical Research aiming to support young scientists. The integration in national and international collaborative projects is expected.
The active research in the focus area of the university “Cardio-Pulmonary System” or the potential area “Infections, Inflammation and Active Ingredients” as well as in the accent areas of the Faculty of Medicine “Oncology: Mechanisms and Individualized Diagnostics/Therapy”, “Reproduction” and “Reparation and Regeneration“ is desirable.
The universities of Giessen and Marburg and the University of Applied Sciences in Central Hessen are working together in a research alliance (Research Campus of Central Hessen) as a structured cooperation based on coordinated priorities. It is expected that the applicant shows cooperativeness to university and department-wide collaborative projects.
Requirements:
The successful candidate should have a proven, internationally recognized academic expertise in her/his research field; moreover she/he should have extensive experience in cellular and molecular biology and in the pathophysiology of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, particularly rheumatic arthritis and should furthermore have special expertise in the field of inflammatory-metabolic signal molecules (cytokines, adipocytokines) in the synovium and the adjacent tissue.
The following qualifications are required: Full and excellent university education in natural sciences, the required qualification for scientific work according to § 61 Para. 1 HHG, usually proven by a doctorate with merit. Furthermore, applicants should have a proof of a particular pedagogic aptitude, and a qualification to represent the specialist field in academic teaching with great commitment is required. First experience gained in the successful acquisition of external research funds, preferably with the German Research Foundation (DFG), the European Union (EU) or the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is desirable.
The JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. JLU also pursues the goal at faculty leadership level of increased competence in dealing with gender and family-related issues. JLU is regarded as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are very welcome. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.
Please send your letter of application (no e-mails, please) including copies of your five major publications, a CV and a documentation of your qualifications and teaching competence to: The President of the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Erwin-Stein-Gebaeude, Goethestrasse 58, 35390 Giessen, Germany, quoting reference number K-03/20. Applications must be received by May 27th, 2020 at the latest.
Candidates are strongly recommended to refer to our webpage on application procedures at https://www.uni-giessen.de/org/admin/dez/c/beschaeftigung/professuren/merkblatt-englisch. Please only submit copies of your application documents without document files or folders, as they cannot be returned after the application procedure has been completed. Applicants are encouraged additionally to fill in one of the forms listed under https://www.uni-giessen.de/fbz/fb11/dekanat/dekanat/ref1. (Bewerbungsbogen – application form). In addition, please send your documentation in digital form.