Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship
The analysis of maternal immunity and placental immune and trophoblast function could add a critical layer for understanding the complex interactions between the maternal immune system and fetal development, and the potential short-term im-prints of pregnancy on the maternal body. The placenta, acting as an interface between maternal and fetal tissues, plays a central barrier role in regulating immune responses throughout pregnancy which is vital to pregnancy outcome just as the production of inflammatory markers within the placenta is necessary and has a direct impact. However, dysregulated immune functions during pregnancy not only affects, fetal development, but may also result in the development of pregnancy diseases such as preeclampsia, hereby endangering mother and child.
Markers such as cytokine profiles, immune cell composition, and activity might provide valuable information for understanding these dynamic processes, might help to understand immune complications post-birth, especially in cases of complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or intrauterine infections.
Single-cell analysis techniques, including RNA sequencing, have made significant strides in recent years, enabling more detailed insights into cellular functions. However, such technologies often require large quantities of tissue or cells, making them challenging to apply in clinical settings, especially for placental and immune cells that may be present in relatively small numbers. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses often provide indirect measures of immune activity, as they do not directly assess post-translational modifications or the actual cellular secretion of key molecules.
Within this project, we aim to study several related questions. Firstly, how maternal immunity reflects placental immune status, how pregnancy affects immune cells and their functions during and after pregnancy, how immune cells and trophoblastic cells interact and contribute to the immune response and endocrine function of the placenta. The high-resolution of the applied techniques will further allow us to study the impact of fetal sex on maternal immunity and its status in the short- and long-term perspective.
This project is a collaboration with the laboratory of Associate Professor Agnete Larsen, who will provide expertise in placental biology and placental cell systems.
Candidates must have a bachelor's degree or master's degree in medicine, biomedicine, molecular biology or related fields and competencies. Experience handling trophoplastic and/or immune cells is a benefit. An interst in developing and applying novel methods is a must for this project, and good collabroative skills are essential. The candidate must master English.
Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 25 June 2025 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 October 2025.
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.
Please contact Associate Professor Klaus Eyer, eyerk@biomed.au.dk, for more information.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
