Master Student in Gastrointestinal Biology (m/f/d)

The Busslinger Laboratory, with its dual affiliation to CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the Medical University of Vienna, is recruiting an ambitious Master student who wants to pursue groundbreaking research in the areas of gastrointestinal biology. Your thesis work will be performed in the laboratory of Georg Busslinger at the Medical University of Vienna.

The Project

The gastrointestinal tract consists of different organs that act together in a coordinated manner to facilitate processes such as the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients. Each organ is lined by a highly specialized epithelial cell layer that mediates and regulates organ-specific processes while they also collectively build a barrier against the human gut microbiome. We are particularly interested in the differentiation and function of the distinct cell types within the gastric epithelium and how these cells interact with their environment, e.g. with bacteria such as H. pylori. Our model system-of-choice are human organoid cultures for the generation of the individual specialized cell types in vitro. We study the regulation of their differentiation and function by using molecular tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approaches to generate either single-gene knockouts or force ectopic expression of genes of interest. This allows us to dissect the role of selected genes in processes such as cell type differentiation or the interaction between epithelial cells and bacteria.

During your master thesis, you will:

• learn how to work with human organoid cultures
• learn how to generate genetic modifications
• use molecular cloning techniques
• investigate changes in gene expression by RT-qPCR or RNA-sequencing

Your work will provide you with insights into human gastric biology at a molecular level and will shed light on cell type dynamics.

Your Profile

We are looking for an outstanding Master student with a strong background in cell biology with a minimum time commitment of 9 to 12 months. Cell culture expertise is required, and experiences with CRISPR-Cas9 or cloning technologies are highly desirable. We provide the opportunity to work on a cutting-edge research project in a highly supportive environment, with high chances to contribute to an important scientific publication. The preferred start date for this position is March. A start date in April or May is also possible.

The Busslinger Lab

We are a highly collaborative team. We enjoy curiosity-driven research and want to shift paradigms in biology. The team includes of one PI (Georg), 1 Lab Manager (Michael), 1 Research Technician (Tatyana) and 2 PhD students (Katharina and Daria).

Our research interest concentrates on improving our understanding of cell type behavior along human gastrointestinal tract. A specific focus lies on the differentiation of human gastric cells. We use human organoid cultures coupled with different molecular approaches such as CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing and high-throughput sequencing methods to identify factors that are important for the differentiation and/or maintenance of mature specialized cell types. Additionally, we also strive to better characterize individual disease stages by analyzing human biopsies using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) approaches. Current scRNA-seq projects focus on inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune gastritis and ulcerative colitis. The overarching goal of the lab is to improve the current in vitro culture system to recapitulate and genetically dissect human disease-relevant aspect in vitro.

The Principal Investigator

Georg Busslinger started his own group in January 2021 at the Medical University of Vienna and, as an Adjunct PI, at CeMM. His scientific journey started by studying molecular biology at the University of Vienna and was followed by obtaining his master’s degree at ETH Zurich (Switzerland). Prior to initiating his PhD studies, he spent a year investigating the epigenetic regulation of the interferon response in the laboratory of Alexander Tarakhovsky at the Rockefeller University in New York (USA). He subsequently joined the group of Jan-Michael Peters at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna for his PhD training and investigated the molecular mechanisms that control the localization of cohesin in the mammalian genome of nonproliferating cells. For his postdoctoral studies, Georg Busslinger joined the laboratory of Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht (Netherlands), where he became an expert in the field of gastrointestinal biology. He characterized the human gastrointestinal epithelia of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum at single-cell resolution, which resulted in a molecular definition of the different cell types of these organs as well as in the identification of rare cell populations and of a novel hormone produced by enterochromaffin-like cells. Additionally, he investigated the cellular and molecular aspects of different stages of Barrett’s esophagus, a common premalignant state of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Together with doctors at UMC Utrecht, Georg Busslinger also initiated a research study to investigate the potential of in vitro esophageal and gastric tumor organoid cultures for predicting patient responses to chemotherapeutic treatments. Recently, Georg Busslinger received an FWF Principal Investigator Project (2024) to intensify the lab’s effort to identify the underlying differentiation mechanisms of human gastric cell types.

About the Institutes

The Medical University of Vienna

The MedUni with its affiliated Vienna University Hospital is one of the most traditional medical training and research facilities in Europe. It is the largest medical training institute in the German-speaking area and is among the most important cutting-edge research institutes of Europe in the area of biomedicine. The close contact between clinicians and basic scientists enables a vivid exchange, which is the basis for breakthrough discoveries. The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Vienna University Hospital is the largest tertiary referral center for gastrointestinal diseases and endoscopy in Austria, providing ample access to patient material.

CeMM

CeMM is an international research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and a founding member of EU-LIFE. The mission of CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. CeMM’s research is based on post-genomic technologies and focuses on societally important diseases, such as immune disorders and infections, cancer, aging and metabolic disorders. CeMM operates in a unique mode of super-cooperation, connecting biology with medicine, experiments with computation, discovery with translation, and science with society and the arts. CeMM discovers and develops technologies to explore human biology with the purpose of defeating disease at its roots. Because Science is our Medicine! CeMM trains a modern blend of biomedical scientists and is located at the campus of the General Hospital and the Medical University of Vienna. CeMM is a proud recipient of the HR Excellence in Research Award (HRS4R). This award indicates that CeMM takes care of the well-being of its employees, that the recruitment process is open, fair, and transparent, and that CeMM offers professional appraisals and career development procedures. More than 150 people from 47 nationalities are working at CeMM. The institute promotes equal opportunity and harbors a mix of different talents, backgrounds, competences, and interests.

We offer

• Work within an experienced, interdisciplinary, and international team at one of Austria’s leading research institutes
• Ample opportunities to contribute and gain experience in a key area of biomedical research and precision medicine
• An inspiring workplace with an international setting, strong team spirit, and an excellent work climate
• A wide range of social, cultural, and sports activities organized by the institute
• Excellent employee benefits including full insurance coverage (health, accident, retirement), health care services, subsidized cafeteria
• Monthly gross salary of EUR 1.299,60 for 20 hours/ week (following the )
• Support for relocating to Vienna is provided (relocation reimbursement, visa support, etc.)

Please apply online () with cover letter, CV , certificates (high school & university Diploma/grades)and contact details of 2 referees. Any application received by Feb 9th 2025 will be considered.