Vacancy

Position:	PhD position in the framework of the HORIZON EUROPE Marie Skłodowska-Curie (f/m/d) doctoral network ZooCELL: “The evolution of cellular phenotypes in animal diversity: multidisciplinary training in 3D cellular reconstruction, multimodal data analysis and science outreach”
Work schedule:	full-time (currently 39 hours and 24 minutes)
Duration:	Initial contract of 18 months within the MSCA Doctoral Network framework. The position is offered as part of a full doctoral project, with the perspective of extension up to a total of 36 months in line with the project timeline, institutional procedures and budget availability. The suggested starting date for the PhD fellow is July 1st, 2026.
Salary Level:	a monthly gross salary of about 3.900 € to 4.400 € depending on family status (including health care and social security benefits)
Code:	14/2026

Project Description

ZooCELL DC9 Project: “The frontal nervous system and receptor cells in Lophophorates”

Planktonic larvae of lophophorates (brachiopods, phoronids) show a broad range of behavioral traits in response to their environment (phototaxis, defense behavior, chemotaxis etc.) facilitated mainly by parts of the nervous system concentrated in the frontal part of the larval body. These include e.g. larval eyes and the apical organ. In brachiopods three different developmental conditions apply: Free swimming lecithotrophic larvae, brooded lecithotrophic larvae, and free-swimming juveniles. They all differ in morphology, behavior, lifetime, and environmental cues they are exposed to. Nonetheless, brachiopods are monophyletic and a common origin of neuronal elements involved in orientation is to be expected. Phoronids and brachiopods are sister taxa, hence the inclusion of horseshoe worms as an outgroup for comparison.

Your tasks

The candidate will conduct an in-depth study of the morphology of the frontal nervous system and esp. apical or-gans based on serial electron microscopy (TEM, FESEM) to 3D-reconstruct (1) the shape of individual neuronal cells in apical organs and the surrounding nervous system incl. receptor cells, (2) the interconnection between these and the frontal nervous system, and (3) the overall architecture of these sensory structures. Supported by scRNA-seq data partly gathered during the preceding project EvoCELL, immunohistochemistry and new AI-technologies the candidate will characterize developmental stages of the articulate brachiopod Terebratalia transversa (pot. also Laqueus vancouveriensis and Terebratulina unguicula to be collected at Vancouver, Canada and if possible the inar-ticulate species Novocrania anomala to be collected at Bergen, Norway, and compare those to data on other lophophorate and lophotrochozoan groups investigated within work packages 1-4 of the ZooCELL network (e.g. Phoronis muelleri). The goal is to finally decipher interdependencies between nervous system morphology (plasticity) and developmental and environmental cues in these groups and to get a better understanding about the evolution of nervous system associated cell types across the board of lophotrochozoan animals. Additionally, as the MfN coordinates the science outreach part of the project, the candidate will be involved in the setup and maintenance of the project’s homepage and activities related to science communication.

Your profile

The candidate preferably has a background in evolutionary morphology of invertebrates and is familiar with high-resolution microscopy techniques, such as TEM, SEM, CLSM etc. Knowledge in molecular biology and a strong interest in science communication are advantageous. Applicants must have a Master’s degree or equivalent to be eligible to enroll as a PhD-student at Humboldt-University Berlin. To be eligible for the fellowship, candidates must not be already in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis, but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Candidates of all nationalities may apply, but they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their appointment (short stays such as holidays or compulsory national service are not taken into account).

We offer you

• exciting working environment in an attractive research museum with varied tasks in a dynamic and future-orientated market
• very good public transport connections in the centre of Berlin
• extensive further training opportunities on a personal and professional level
• flexible working hours and a wide range of options for balancing work and family life (e.g. flexi-time or individual part-time models)
• depending on the job, mobile working is possible for up to 60 per cent of individual working hours
  
• employer subsidy for the “VBB Firmenticket” (company ticket) or “Deutschlandticket Job” (Germany ticket job)
  
• employee events, company health management and German and English language courses
  
• 30 days' holiday plus 24 December and 31 December off