PhD/Predoc (m/f/d) Department of Dermatology

The Skin Cancer Center at the Department of Dermatology is part of the University Cancer Center (UCC) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden and provides comprehensive interdisciplinary care for patients with malignant skin tumors. Alongside patient care, clinical and translational research is a major focus of our work. Our translational research laboratory, “Experimental Dermato-Oncology,” investigates the immune mechanisms underlying skin cancer progression and therapy response, with the aim of identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. The laboratory is closely connected to clinical and scientific partners at University Hospital Dresden, including Immunology and Pathology, and collaborates with national and international research partners, including through the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) and the NCT.

In this PhD project, we aim to uncover immune mechanisms that shape melanoma progression, systemic anti-tumor immunity and clinical outcome. Using well-characterized patient-derived tissue and blood samples, we will investigate how the immune microenvironment and systemic immune responses differ between patients with distinct clinical courses. The project will integrate spatial and quantitative tissue analysis with immunological and molecular approaches, linking experimental findings to detailed clinical data and long-term patient outcomes. Modern technologies including spatial biology, digital pathology and immune profiling will be complemented by functional experimental approaches to investigate biologically relevant findings in greater depth. By studying patients across different clinical and therapeutic settings, we aim to identify immune features associated with melanoma progression and outcome and to better understand how local and systemic immune responses contribute to disease control. The specific biological questions and methodological focus will evolve throughout the project based on emerging findings, providing opportunities to develop and pursue novel mechanistic hypotheses.