As a transregional provider of secondary to quaternary care, the RWTH Aachen University Hospital combines patient-oriented medicine and nursing, teaching, and research at an international level. With 35 specialist services, across 30 institutes and five interdisciplinary units, the university hospital covers the entire medical spectrum. Our unique setting of a single building hosting health care, research and teaching offering the best conditions for intensive interdisciplinary exchange and close clinical and scientific networking. Around 8,500 employees ensure that holistic patient-oriented management and nursing care is delivered consistently according to recognized quality standards over 45,000 inpatient episodes, through 1400 beds, and 200,000 outpatient attendances per year.

The Medical Clinic III - project " Using real-world data to identify and validate repurposing drugs for liver/heart disease” within the framework of the IZKF joint research project "Metabolic injury as driver of organ-dependent phase transition" are seeking a

Phd Student (f/m/d) -Dr. rer. nat. oder Dr. rer. medic.-

The part-time position (25,03 hours/week) starts on 1st January 2023 and is funded till 31th December 2024 (IZKF funding). The option to extend for a further two years exists.

The global obesity epidemic is accompanied by a massive increase in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). So far, therapy consists only of difficult to maintain lifestyle modifications, which often fail. Therefore, new, widely available and well-tolerated treatment options for MAFLD are urgently needed. A promising therapeutic approach is the use of existing drugs for the treatment of MAFLD.

In a systematic, population-based approach, we will phenotype the metabolic effects of common drugs and supplements with a particular focus on changes in serum lipid metabolism and MAFLD/CVD risk. We will analyse the population-based UK Biobank and leverage the growing wealth of multi-omics data, including lipidomics. Finally, we will develop mechanistic computer models to simulate and quantify how common drugs affect VLDL secretion and thus CVD and MAFLD development. The models will consider the most important steps of VLDL synthesis, transport and secretion with a special focus on the targeted subprocesses. Computer-aided modelling is a powerful tool for predicting the dynamics of complex systems, systematically comparing different hypotheses and gaining mechanistic insights from real-world data. Estimating process parameters (such as rates of metabolic processes or drug-induced metabolic changes) using computer models and data from individual patients can contribute significantly to personalized medicine.

The long-term goal of the proposed project is to use large-scale clinical and lipidomic data to decipher essential pathophysiological pathways linking MAFLD, plasma lipid metabolism and CVD risk to an extent that enables the identification of optimal targets and the development of therapeutic strategies for MAFLD .

Your Tasks

• Independent planning, coordination, and publication of research projects in close cooperation with the group leaders
• Dealing with population-based cohorts, data management and evaluation
• Diverse spectrum of biostatistical methods
• Independent data evaluation and presentation of results in a scientific context (e.g. conferences, publications, etc.)
• Computational modelling of medical outcomes

Profile

• Successfully completed scientific studies (bioinformatics, statistics, theoretical biology or related disciplines)
• Great interest in learning new methods
• Good knowledge of English (level C2)
• Mastery of essential biostatistical techniques and programming
• High motivation and willingness to learn, fascination for scientific work and independent work

Why should you choose us?

• 300 professions under one roof - more variety is not possible.
• We offer performance-based remuneration in accordance with the provisions of TV-L (EG13), including attractive public service benefits.
• In addition to a wide range of further education and training opportunities we offer a wide range of health promotion options as well as the extensive university sports program.
• Monthly employee discounts through our corporate benefits program to save on private shopping.
• Flexible working hours so that you can better combine work and private life, because your work-life balance is important to us.
• Attractive conditions for public transport or discounted employee parking so that you have a relaxed commute.
• A company kindergarten so that your children are always close by

This position is not gender specific.

The RWTH Aachen University Hospital promotes equal opportunities and diversity. Applications from women are expressly encouraged and if the applicant is suitable qualified, they will be given priority in accordance with the LGG. If suitably qualified, people with a registered disability will also receive priority.

Weekly hours are negotiable.

Please note that taking up this role can only occur after a pre-employment health check has confirmed evidence of immunisation (or evidence of immunity) according to paragraph 20, section 3 of the infection prevention law (vaccination for COVID-19).

You should preferably use our digital application portal at www.karriere.ukaachen.de for your application. There you have the option of securing your documents in the electronic application folder to prevent unauthorized access. Applications that reach us by email to: bewerbung@ukaachen.de (this transmission path cannot be as effectively secured) will be transferred to the aforementioned portal and any accompanying documents will be disposed of in accordance with data protection regulations immediately after transfer. After the retention period has expired, the data in the portal will also be deleted. If you do not agree to a transfer to the Application portal your application cannot be considered.

Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Internal Intensive Care (Medical Clinic III), Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen.

The application deadline for the advertised position GB-P 39245 is 28th of December 2022.

For more detailed information please contact Professor Thomas Stiehl or Dr. med. Carolin Schneider, phone:+49 (0)241/ 80-37522, E-Mail: tstiehl@ukaachen.de and cschneider@ukaachen.de.