Open Positions
Technical Assistant - open for applications
We are looking for a highly motivated Technical Assistant to support our central service unit in the production of microfluidic systems, such as organ-on-chip platforms, as well as for the sorting immune cells according to their sizes, using microfluidic devices.
As a member of our team, you will be actively involved in pioneering biomedical research projects and support the establishment of various organ-on-chip systems.
If you are interested please send your written application, including a complete CV, certificates, and any relevant references as a single PDF document no later than February 15, 2026, to:
Dr. Sadaf Pashapour, microfluidics@imseam.uni-heidelberg.de.
You can find more information here:
Interinstitutional Postdoc
We are currently looking for a Postdoc via the Alliance Interinstitutional Postdoc Program (Project Proposal #30)
Project Outline
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) arise from complex interactions among central nervous system cells and peripheral muscle cells. Mounting evidence indicates that early dysregulation of neuro-immune communication contributes to disease onset long before clinical symptoms emerge (PMID: 41157172, PMID: 29106805). However, existing in vitro models rarely permit controlled investigation of these dynamic interactions, limiting mechanistic insights into the earliest stages of disease. This project aims to develop and enable widespread adoption of a microfluidic Neuro-Immune–Neuro-Muscular Organ-on-a-Chip platform that allows precise, mechanistic studies of how immune activation and muscle maturation influence neuronal interactions during early neurodegeneration (PMID: 36934404). The platform consists of multiple compartments dedicated to each cell type, separated by porous barriers that allow controlled intercellular interactions while maintaining distinct media and microenvironments for each population (Dr. Sadaf Pashapour, Microfluidics Core Facility).
The project focuses on two complementary modules:
- Neuro-Immune Chip: A 2D system containing human iPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes, and microglia embedded in an extracellular matrix-like environment. This module supports long-term culture, enables real-time monitoring of synaptic activity, and allows detailed characterization of microglial state transitions in response to early pathological triggers.
- Neuro-Muscular Chip: A 2D model simulating interactions between motor neurons and myoblasts, designed to investigate the progressive impact of disease-associated mutations on neuro-muscular connectivity, maturation, and functional performance.
If you are interested, please visit following website and apply according to the regulations stated there. Looking forward to your application!