The Zuber lab is looking for a highly motivated, curiosity-driven, and pro-active master student who would like to join our lab at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) for a minimum duration of 9 months (preferably one year), starting between June and October 2026. Besides working on an exciting project in translational cancer research, the student will participate in weekly lab meetings and journal clubs and will be exposed to the vibrant research environment of the Vienna BioCenter with frequent lectures of world-renowned scientists and excellent training opportunities. The student will receive a monthly stipend.
Research in the Zuber group
The genetic complexity, heterogeneity and plasticity of human cancers pose daunting challenges for the development of effective targeted therapies. Functional genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi and targeted protein degradation have fundamentally changed the way we can approach this problem. The Zuber lab develops and employs these tools to systematically identify and mechanistically study key regulators and dependencies in genetically engineered cancer models and tumor-associated immune cells. Additional information: www.imp.ac.at/groups/johannes-zuber. Key publications: Groessl & Kalis et al. (Science, 2025); Pechincha et al. (Science, 2022); de Almeida & Hinterndorfer et al. (Nature, 2021); Michlits & Jude et al. (Nature Methods, 2020).
The project
We offer thesis projects in various research focus areas, including (i) in vivo genetic screening of lung cancer models, (ii) discovery of deletion-induced cancer dependencies, and (iii) identification of cell state-selective vulnerabilities. These projects aim to unlock novel targets for therapeutic intervention based on cellular models that recapitulate real tumors as closely as possible, while allowing the scalable deployment of cutting edge functional genetic tools. The successful applicant will work closely with experienced researchers driving these projects to forge the next generation of cancer geneticists. Beyond gaining skills in a wide range of basic molecular and cell biology techniques (e.g. molecular cloning, viral gene transfer, CRISPR-based genome engineering, FACS, NGS), the student will be introduced to cutting-edge cancer models and CRISPR screening technologies.
The candidate
A strong interest in cancer biology is an essential pre-requisite, as is passion and perseverance. A successful candidate for this position should:
Be highly motivated, curiosity-driven and have a pro-active mindset.
Be enrolled in a Master's program that allows performing the Master thesis work at an independent research institution like the IMP.
Have a critical mindset to analyze her/his results and be able to work independently, while receiving support and mentoring from supervisors.
Previous experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques is a plus.
Be proficient in English (English is the working language in our lab and institute).
Our Environment
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna is a basic biomedical research institute largely sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. With over 200 scientists from 40 countries, the IMP is committed to scientific discovery of fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying complex biological phenomena. The IMP is located at the Vienna BioCenter, one of Europe’s most dynamic life science hubs with 1,850 employees from 70 countries in four research institutes, three universities and more than 30 biotech companies (www.viennabiocenter.org; www.imp.ac.at).
Application
Interested candidates should send their CV, university transcripts, and a motivation letter to johannes.zuber[at]imp.ac.at.