PhD Candidate (Dr. rer. nat) Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

The Department of Psychiatry Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in Frankfurt investigates mental disorders along the life span with a focus on mood disorders (Treatment-resistant depression bipolar disorder suicidality) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. Our research teams converge highly interdisciplinary expertise in psychiatry clinical and applied psychology as well as neurobiology to elucidate the pathophysiological genetic and molecular mechanisms of these disorders as well as to identify novel tailored treatments in the sense of precision psychiatry. We make use of a diverse range of cutting-edge methods that follow the logic of translational/experimental medicine with results from basic studies being rapidly translated to the bedside. Our methodological spectrum covers the fields of molecular biology and genetics animal models lifestyle modifications neurophysiology neuroimaging and clinical studies.

About the Projects

This PhD project involves participation on two projects:

Project PRECISION investigates visuospatial working memory precision (VWMP) and the cortical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as potential biomarkers for stimulant therapy in adult ADHD. While stimulants improve symptoms and cortical SNR reliable markers to guide individualized stimulant dosing are lacking. Using fMRI in adults with ADHD and healthy controls after stimulant washout we will assess VWMP performance and compute cortical SNR via visual mapping and multivariate encoding models. The project combines behavioral neuroimaging and genetic methods to advance precision medicine approaches in ADHD. The PhD candidate will benefit from the interdisciplinary collaboration of our department with the Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience and the Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviou in Nijmegen.

Project Neuropsychobiology of Aggression aims to identify multidimensionally defined biosignatures of aggression in mental disorders. These will then be used to develop customized biomarker-driven prevention and intervention sub-project Q01 a central recruitment platform will be established for collecting and curating a longitudinal dataset for studying individual aggression dynamics related to the neural cognitive-emotional neurobiological psychopathological and environmental factors in patient groups. The doctoral position is embedded transregionally and in cooperation with the University of Frankfurt RWTH Aachen University the University of Heidelberg the Central Institute of Mental Health as well as the Universities of Mainz Würzburg and Forschungszentrum Jülich.

Your tasks:

• Scientific work with the aim of a publication-based doctorate
• Conducting and supervising fMRI measurements
• Support of ongoing patient recruitment
• Database management
• Data-driven analysis of the questions
• Publication of the results in scientific journals
• Presentation and discussion of the project and research results at specialist conferences in Germany and abroad
• Supervision of interns Bachelors/Masters and/or medical doctorate students
• Organizational tasks within the framework of the project

• You have successfully completed a university degree (Master of Science) in Psychology Neuroscience or similar studies.
• Skills in programming-based data processing (e.g. R Python Matlab) are highly desirable.
• Experience with neuroimaging is desirable.
• You have already gained experience in scientific work as part of your studies.
• You are motivated and curious to try out new things.
• Very good knowledge of German (min. C1) and very good knowledge of English (C1) are expected.
• Due to legal regulations valid proof of measles immunity / measles vaccination is required

• working in an international interdisciplinary and renowned research team. Agile working methods and flat hierarchies. We live psychological safety and value respect recognition and diversity.
• In addition to an attractive salary based on a collective agreement with an annual special payment you benefit from long-term security through company pension schemes
• Internal and external training for your professional development
• Benefit from our attractive health offers. We offer regular online and face-to-face courses on nutrition relaxation sports and exercise
• Part-time employment is possible we offer childcare in our daycare center (if you have any questions please contactUKF-Familienservice) child care during holidays
• Free public transport in all Hessen (Free State Ticket Hessen)
• Uniklinik-Campus Mensa Cafés
• Insights: Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
• FAQs for new employees

Name: Dr. Catherine Barnes-Scheufler
Contact: 0or
Application Deadline: 31.10.2025

We welcome applications from candidates of all genders. Women are currently underrepresented in these positions at Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt. Therefore applications from women are especially encouraged. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration in cases of equal personal and professional qualifications.