Postdoc (f/m/x) in Köln

• Carrying out animal experiments including corneal transplantation in a mouse model, immunological assays (MLR, DC-T cell co-culture etc.), in vivo microscopy, siRNA, and flow cytometry
• Designing and performing experiments using cell/molecular biology/immunological techniques (proliferation, migration, tube formation, adhesion, qPCR, ELISA, Western Blot), immunohistochemistry, imaging analysis (immunofluorescence, confocal, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or microscopic optical coherence tomography (mOCT))
• Presentation and publication of the findings

• Hold a PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine or comparable
• Have a strong interest in lymphangiogenesis or angiogenesis, stem cell research and/or immunology
• Have profound knowledge of techniques used in molecular biology, cell biology and immunology (strongly preferred)
• Be willing to carry out animal experiments
• Be strongly motivated to do independent experimental work
• Good knowledge of English

• Excellent laboratory facilities, excellent opportunities for international scientific networking on the Cologne Life Sciences campus, and specific support for female scientists

Functional relevance and molecular mechanisms of tyrosinase in controlling lymphangiogenesis in different ocular diseases

This project is associated with the research group FOR 2240 "" (speaker: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Claus Cursiefen, FEBO, FARVO and vice-speaker: Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Langmann) at the , University Hospital Cologne.

The cornea is one of the few tissues that is physiologically avascular. The avascularity of the cornea is a prerequisite for its transparency which is maintained by an active process involving the production of anti-(lymph)angiogenic factors to counterbalance proangiogenic factors. However, diseases of the eye, like infections or chemical burns, can destroy the balance between pro- and anti-(lymph)angiogenic factors, which leads to ingrowth of blood and lymphatic vessels. Currently, however, no treatment strategies are clinically available to specifically modulate lymphangiogenesis. Recently, tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanogenesis, was discovered as novel regulator of the developmental and inflammation induced lymphangiogenesis. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of the functional relevance and the molecular mechanisms of tyrosinase in regulating (pathological) ocular lymphangiogenesis.