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CSC-Tübingen PhD Program: Project 13/2026: Bioreactor-Based Ex Vivo Culture of Human Cancer Tissues for Functional Precision Medicine and Co-Clinical Immunotherapy Trials
Topic Description:
Immunotherapies, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and CAR T cells, have revolutionized cancer treatment. Yet, variability in patient response and the development of resistance underscore the need for functional precision medicine strategies to guide therapy selection. Traditional in vitro models fail to capture the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, limiting their predictive capacity.
This project will develop patient-derived 3D perfusion bioreactor cultures using live cancer tissue from melanoma lymph node metastases and lymphoma lymph nodes, preserving the native tumor microenvironment, including immune and stromal components. These models will be used to test functional responses to ICIs, CAR T cells, and other immunotherapies, alone or in combination. To achieve dynamic insight into therapeutic activity, we will integrate live tissue and cell microscopy, enabling direct visualization of CAR T–tumor cell interactions, infiltration, and killing dynamics in real time. The platform will be applied within a co-clinical trial framework, allowing parallel evaluation of patient-derived samples and matched clinical cases to determine whether ex vivo functional precision medicine results predict actual patient responses to immunotherapies.
We will combine bioreactor engineering, live-cell imaging, multiparametric functional assays, highly multiplexed tissue omics, and molecular profiling to dissect mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance. Ultimately, this research aims to establish bioreactor-based functional precision medicine as a clinically actionable platform for melanoma and lymphoma, accelerating the translation of immunotherapy into individualized treatment strategies.

Faculty: Faculty of Medicine
Institute/Section/Subject: Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology. Research subject: Imaging and function of the immune synapse
Supervising Professors: Prof. Dr. med. Christian M. Schürch, MD, PhD

About the Supervisors: I am a board-certified surgical pathologist with >15 years of basic science experience (tumor immunology of leukemias & lymphomas, tumor mouse models, tumor microenvironment, highly multiplexed tissue imaging with >80 simultaneous protein markers, 3D tissue perfusion bioreactors). I am also founding member, vice-president and treasurer of the European Society for Spatial Biology (ESSB). Recent publications: Li et al., Blood 2025, in revision; Zhang et al., Theranostics 2025, in revision; Mayer et al., Science Advances 2023; Shekarian et al., Science Advances 2022; Phillips et al., Nature Communications 2021; Schürch et al., Blood 2021; Schürch et al., Cell 2020; all publications and personal website: www.schurchlab.com.

Degree: PhD in Experimental Medicine
Type of the PhD Study: Full-time (complete doctoral studies at the University of Tübingen)

Requirements for the application:
Required Degrees and Qualifications: Master’s degree in medicine, biology, biotechnology, or related discipline.

Language Requirements: Proficiency in English (scientific level oral/written; CEFR B2-C1).

Notes: PhD candidates with strong experimental skills; a solid background in immunology and cell biology, and/or bioinformatics would be an advantage.


For further instructions on how to apply, more information on the program and contact details please see below.

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CSC-Tübingen PhD Program
The China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the University of Tübingen have established a PhD Program which supports Chinese nationals inside and outside of China wishing to carry out all or part of their PhD study in Tübingen.

Aims:

• providing high quality research training to qualified students from Chinese universities
• developing education and research collaborations between the University of Tübingen and Chinese universities and research institutions

Target group:
Excellent postgraduate and doctoral students from the People's Republic of China.

Funding line A - Full time fellowship:

• postgraduate students who want to carry out their complete doctoral studies at the University of Tübingen
• up to 48 months
• degree conferred by the University of Tübingen
• Annual living allowance as prescribed by the Chinese Government (which includes Overseas Student Health Cover)

Funding Line B - Part time fellowship (sandwich model):

• doctoral students who want to carry out their research and studies alternatively at their home universities and the University of Tübingen. They follow a schedule set in advance by both the Chinese supervisors and supervisors at the University of Tübingen
• 6-24 months in Tübingen
• degree conferred by the Chinese home university
• Annual living allowance as prescribed by the Chinese Government (which includes Overseas Student Health Cover) for 6-24 months

Funding for both Funding lines includes:

• Return airfare to Germany
• Visa application fees
• Support for the attendance of international conferences during the second and third year (up to 1000€ granted to successful applicants)

Benefits for both funding lines:

• Tuition waiver
• Option to take German language classes provided by the University of Tübingen during the first year
• Accommodation offered in Tübingen student dormitories depending on availability
• Opportunities to gain additional teaching and research experience as well as economic benefits from the University of Tübingen from the second year onward (depending on the ability of the applicant and the situation of the respective institute)

Application Process:

• Jan 15: Application deadline. Applications must be handed in through the online application system of the University of Tübingen
• by March 10: Successful applicants will be officially informed
• by March 31: Invited applicants have to register with the CSC according to the regulations of the CSC.
• by May 31: Final decisions about the allocation of scholarships will be made by the CSC
• by Oct 1: Program participants arrive in Tübingen
• Successful candidates must return to China upon completion of their studies.

How to Apply:
In order to apply you need to upload the following documents combined in 1 PDF

• Cover/Motivation letter
• CV
• Research proposal (3-5 pages)
• Academic transcripts* (if you have not yet completed your Master's studies, please submit a confirmation of studies and an up-to-date transcript of records)
• Proof of proficient English language skills (i.e. comprehension of a wide range of demanding, longer texts as well as fluent and spontaneous expression allowing a flexible and effective language use for social, academic and professional purposes.) - TOEFL iBT 95 or IELTS 6.5 or equivalent

*List of required Academic transcripts (including official translation into German or English for documents issued in Chinese)
1) Bachelor’s Degree Award Certificate / Bachelor Gradverleihungsurkunde (学士学位证书 xueshi xuewei zhengshu)
2) Bachelor's Degree Certificate/ Abschlusszeugnis (毕业证书 biye zhengshu) für das Bachelorstudium (本科 benke)
3) Transcript of the subjects and marks / Fächer- und Notenübersicht (成绩表 chengjibiao) for your Bachelor’s degree/ für das Bachelorstudium (本科 benke)
4) Master’s Degree Award Certificate / Master-Gradverleihungsurkunde (硕士学位证书 shuoshi xuewei zhengshu)
5) Master’s Degree Certificate/ Abschlusszeugnis für das Masterstudium (硕士研究生毕业证书 shuoshi yanjiusheng biye zhengshu)
6) Transcript of the subjects and marks for your Master’s Degree / Fächer- und Notenübersicht für das Masterstudium (硕士研究生成绩表 shuoshi yanjiusheng chengjibiao)

For questions please contact:
(Ms) Tetyana Tonkoshkur
Dezernat II – Forschung
Internationale Forschungskooperation
+49 7071 29-750005
international.research@uni-tuebingen.de
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