Research internship and/or Master Thesis in Walter Brendel Center for Experimental Medicine, LMU Klinikum

To all interested master’s students looking for Research internship and/or Master Thesis in Walter Brendel Center for Experimental Medicine, LMU Klinikum, Munich. Two positions are available in Prof Merkus's lab:

Study of factors responsible for heart remodeling post kidney injury

Heart tissue remodeling and signaling post kidney injury is incompletely understood. In order to address this translational gap, we to have developed transgenic as well as kidney injury animal models to study signaling pathways in the heart. We discovered key molecular and electrophysiological changes in the heart that had not previously been examined in the context of this disease. We now propose to validate these pathways further by using heart slices (novel ex vivo method to culture heat explants) and analyze pig heart tissues (atria and left ventricle to ascertain their translational value in cardiovascular medicine.

General methods depend on the project progress but usually include:

• mRNA expression (rt PCR) and histological analysis from tissue
• ELISA, western blots and immunofluorescence staining to identify signaling pathways 
• human and swine human heart explant culture.

Your qualifications:

• Highly motivated and willingness to on complex scientific questions
• Initiative and problem-solving abilities
• Willingness to work with human and pig heart tissues
• Background knowledge in Cell biology is beneficial
• Good communication skills in English

Our offer:

• Positive working atmosphere in a young and highly motivated scientific environment
• Training to work with laboratory animals (if interested).
• Direct and interactive supervision
• Opportunity to present one's work in conferences and co-authorship
• Weekly meeting with scientific discussion for a broad overview of current cardiorenal pathology questions, research in progress updates

Please send inquiries with your short motivation letter and a detailed CV combined in a single PDF via Email to [email protected].

Lab of Prof. Daphne Merkus ( Director of Walter Brendel Center for Experimental Medicine)
Walter Brendel Center for Experimental medicine (WBEX), LMU Klinikum
Marchioninistrasse 68, 81377 München