Read about what our Postdoc Fellows say
“How do colon cancer cells change their behaviour, and how does this enable them to spread throughout the body? Using cutting-edge technologies, advanced experimental models, and computational analyses, we investigate how cancer cells dynamically alter their identity and behaviour to leave the primary tumour, survive in circulation, and establish new tumours in distant organs. We further study how these adaptive processes support therapy resistance and are shaped by interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment. I chose to pursue a DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship because DKFZ provides an outstanding environment for both scientific and personal development. The strong support network and opportunities for scientific exchange are invaluable for advancing my research and building a solid foundation for a career in cancer research.”
Dr. Alexandra Thiran (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2025)
"Most cancers are diagnosed only after a tumor has already formed. But cancer does not appear overnight. It develops silently, often for years, before becoming clinically detectable. This delay represents a critical gap in oncology, because earlier cancer detection enables prevention and early treatment. My goal is to determine whether DNA methylation changes can be detected directly in urine to distinguish healthy individuals, people at increased risk, and patients with bladder cancer. If successful, this could enable a urine test that identifies cancer risk early and guides personalized care. Receiving the DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship has given me that opportunity, allowing me to pursue my research in a collaborative environment while fostering both my scientific and personal growth. If I were a “seed,” DKFZ would be the “fertile soil” where I can grow and flourish, and I hope to make a meaningful contribution to cancer prevention."
- Dr. Eka Putra Gusti Ngurah Putu (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2025)
"Why do immune cells sometimes protect us from cancer, but in other cases help tumors grow? This is one of the central questions driving my research. I investigate how immune cells recruited from the bloodstream into the brain are reprogrammed by brain tumors. By linking immune cell behavior to their molecular programs, my research aims to uncover new ways to harness the immune system against brain cancer. Bringing together expertise in cancer biology, immunology, advanced imaging, and spatial genomics, the DKFZ offers an ideal setting to tackle fundamental questions in brain cancer. The DKFZ Postdoctoral fellowship represents an important step toward my longterm goal of advancing our understanding of brain immunity and establishing my own
independent research program."
- Dr. Davide Caredio (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2025)
“I am motivated to pursue a DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship in the Epithelial-Microbiome Interactions Lab (EMIL) in Heidelberg because it enables me to develop my research independently within a leading laboratory in the field and at an internationally renowned cancer research institution. I am particularly excited to combine my experience with animal models with the lab‘s expertise in organoid and organ-chip models, their biobank of patient-derived bacteria and tissues, and their close proximity to the clinic. The fellowship enables me to establish my own research direction at the intersection of the neonatal microbiome and cancer and contribute to the development of new strategies for cancer prevention.”
- Jarryd Michael Boath (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2025)
“My research aims to improve our understanding of pediatric low-grade glioma biology to identify more effective and less toxic treatment options for children. The DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides not only great support and resources to pursue independent research, but also valuable opportunities for career development, networking, and scientific exchange. Being part of this community provides the ideal foundation to advance my research while developing as an independent scientist with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for children with brain tumors.”
- Dr. Daniel Christen (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2025)
“Initially, joining the DKFZ for me was a matter of scientific focus. However, once I settled here, I discovered (and continue to discover) an incredibly rich environment of talented researchers from all over the world and from all areas of the biomedical sciences. The possibilities are endless: discussions, seminars, courses, career support, funding, and networking opportunities that support my path towards becoming an independent researcher. The DKFZ Fellowship was my access key to this environment. It also allows me to take the time necessary to develop my own original research questions and to translate them into experiments, supported by a broad repertoire of in-house expertise and core facilities. At the DKFZ, I investigate the role of the human virome, which is the viral counterpart of the human microbiota, in shaping and maintaining the activity of the immune system, as well as its impact on carcinogenesis. I believe that both the DKFZ environment and the DKFZ Fellowship provide an ideal starting point for this work.”
- Dr. Moritz Schüßler (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2024)
"After completing a PhD on the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation and their disruption in cancer, I wanted to move closer to translational research. The DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowship enabled me to connect fundamental gene regulation with clinically relevant questions. My work now focuses on glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor: our goal is to understand what enables glioblastoma cells to change states and how this plasticity can be exploited therapeutically. Heidelberg offers the ideal setting to pursue this work through ambitious in vivo and multi-omics approaches, supported by strong collaborations and state-of-the-art infrastructure."
- Dr. Louis Masclef (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2024)
“After completing my PhD in Montreal, I was delighted to be awarded a DKFZ International Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue my research on the epigenetic mechanisms driving sarcoma initiation. At the DKFZ, I benefit from an exceptional scientific environment, with access to state-of-the-art core facilities and strong collaborations that enables ambitious in-vivo and multi-omics research. Joining the DKFZ in Heidelberg has been a decisive and highly rewarding step in my scientific career.”
- Dr. Oumaima Ahmed (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2024)
"I aim to orient my career towards translational research and immunotherapy for the treatment of virus-induced cancers, with the hope to make an impact for patient care. In addition to benefit from the international reputation of excellence in fundamental and translational cancer research, working at the DKFZ provides me with the access to huge technical resources, collaborations with talented scientists, translational research, advanced training, Career Service and International Program."
- Dr. Noémie Lejeune (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2024)
“To give rise to tissues that make up an entire organism, stem cells differentiate into different cell types by switching genes on and off, a process known as gene regulation. Cell-type specific gene regulation requires remote sequences in DNA, such as enhancers. Since enhancers can be located at large distances from their target genes, they presumably need to come into close spatial proximity to regulate their cognate gene. Our group has discovered a new class of such sequences that only transiently contact their target gene promoters. In my project, I will elucidate the molecular mechanisms and function of transient interactions using mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation as a model system. I aim to identify transcription factors that bind to transiently promoter-interacting sequences and to unravel their role in contact formation. This will allow us to understand how these processes drive development and ultimately how they are dysregulated in cancer cells.”
- Dr. Ann-Kristin Dicke (Awardee Dr. Rurainski Fellowship at DKFZ 2024)
“One of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment is that some malignant cells develop resistance to therapy, leading to relapse. This is especially common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive type of blood cancer. To improve patient survival, it is crucial to develop new therapies that identify and target the weaknesses of these drug-resistant cells. Recent research suggests that triggering a specific type of cell death, called ferroptosis, could be a promising strategy. My project focuses on developing new drugs that block a key protein of ferroptosis, GPX4, which helps these resistant cancer cells survive. By targeting GPX4, we aim to create a new therapy that, when combined with existing treatments, could prevent AML relapse and improve patient outcomes. I was drawn to do my Postdoc at DKFZ because of its world-class cancer research environment and strong focus on developing solutions for cancer patients. My goal is to contribute to new treatment strategies that could one day be used in the clinic. The DKFZ Postdoctoral fellowship allows me to carry out this important research while expanding my skills in drug discovery and collaborating with top experts in the field."
- Dr. Lissy Gross (Awardee DKFZ International Postdoc Fellowship 2024)