Project for a Research Internship and/or Master Thesis

To all interested master’s students looking for a Research internship and/or Master Thesis in Immunological Diabetes Research at the Research Unit for Type 1 Diabetes Immunology Helmholtz Diabetes Center,
Helmholtz Center Munich.

The effect of novel compounds on Treg induction and cellular toxicity

In a high-throughput screening approach we identified compound candidates that affect the
antigen-specific Treg induction capacity of naïve T cells in vitro. A subset of these compounds will
be analyzed in more detail to examine their effect on the differentiation of naïve T cells in steady
state and in different disease settings. Furthermore, the toxicity of the compounds will be assessed
in different cell types using cell painting. These analyses will enable the subsequent in vivo
application of the identified compounds and provide important insights into their therapeutic
potential.

General methods depend on the project progress but usually include:
• Multi parameter flow cytometry and cell sorting (FACS)
• T cell differentiation assays in vitro
• ELISA for autoantibody detection in murine NOD plasma
• Isolation of T cells from various murine tissues and/or human peripheral blood
• mRNA expression analysis from tissue and/or sorted cells by real-time qPCR
• Toxicity assessment of compounds by using Cell Painting technology

Your qualifications:
• Highly motivated with a profound scientific interest
• Initiative and problem-solving abilities for complex scientific questions
• Willingness to work with laboratory mice is essential (experience not required but
beneficial)
• Background knowledge in Immunology is beneficial
• Good communication and presentation skills in English

Our offer:
• Positive working atmosphere in a young and highly motivated scientific environment
• State-of-the-art technologies
• Training to work with laboratory animals (for master students)
• Direct and interactive supervision
• Weekly meeting with scientific discussion for a broad overview of current immunological
questions, research in progress updates and weekly 1:1 meetings to discuss the project
For further information, please contact Till Johannsmann or Maike Becker directly.

Please send inquiries with your short motivation letter, a detailed CV (focus on previous lab and
method experience) and the latest transcript of records combined in a single PDF via Email to
Maike Becker, PostDoc, maike.becker@helmholtz-muenchen.de
and Till Johannsmann, PhD student, till.johannsmann@helmholtz-muenchen.de

Lab of Prof. Dr. Carolin Daniel
Research Unit Type 1 Diabetes Immunology
Helmholtz Center Munich
Heidemannstr. 1, 80939 München