You have a completed Master's degree (or equivalent) in

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Biology / Molecular Biology (or related)
• Biotechnology

The language of the doctoral school is English; therefore English is required, German is an advantage.

Further expectations are

• A deep interest in and enthusiasm for scientific work.
• A critical and analytical mind.
• Strong communication, data presentation and visualisation skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• An asset: Experience in writing scientific publications.
• An asset: Experience in working with mammalian cells and mice.
• An asset: Knowledge of molecular biology techniques, as well as biochemical and histological analysis methods.

Metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) pose severe health risks, reduce quality of life, and burden healthcare systems with rising costs and hospitalizations. Given the increasing prevalence and limited treatment options (1), further research is essential to develop new therapeutic and preventive strategies for better clinical and economic outcomes.

The non-protein-coding genome plays a key role in various physiological and pathological processes. In particular, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) - a class of RNA molecules over 200 nucleotides long with no detectable protein-coding potential - have become a major focus in biomedical research (2-4).  Understanding their functions can reveal novel biological mechanisms, advance disease knowledge, and enable new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

One such lncRNA has been identified as a key stress-response gene that is essential for cell survival under stress conditions. Elevated levels of this lncRNA have been furthermore linked to metabolic stress and liver disease, suggesting its potential role in the development and progression of these conditions. Given the implication of this lncRNA in stress-related metabolic diseases, this project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms regulating this lncRNA under metabolic stress, investigate its role in metabolic disease, and develop novel lncRNA-based therapeutic strategies

The research will initially focus on understanding the molecular function of this lncRNA under metabolic stress. This involves examining how the lncRNA is regulated in relevant cell types (such as hepatic, intestinal, muscle, or immune cells) under stress conditions associated with metabolic diseases, including ER stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. State-of-the-art techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics will be employed for this investigation. Subsequently, the role of the lncRNA in metabolic disease will be studied using various genetic mouse models, analyzing disease onset and progression through histological, biochemical, and molecular methods. Additionally, compounds capable of modulating this lncRNA will be identified, tested, and further developed into potential new therapies for metabolic diseases.

• Le P, Tatar M, Dasarathy S, Alkhouri N, Herman WH, Taksler GB, et al. Estimated Burden of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in US Adults, 2020 to 2050. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(1):e2454707.
• Brandt A, Kopp F. Long Noncoding RNAs in Diet-Induced Metabolic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(11).
• Kopp F, Mendell JT. Functional Classification and Experimental Dissection of Long Noncoding RNAs. Cell. 2018;172(3):393-407.
• Scholda J, Nguyen TTA, Kopp F. Long noncoding RNAs as versatile molecular regulators of cellular stress response and homeostasis. Hum Genet. 2024;143(7):813-29.