Research projects

In principle, the following applies to currently advertised research projects:
Please send your applications (letter of motivation + CV) to:

with the subject line: Application for the following research project: Title

1)
Target group of students: Molecular Bioscience, Master
Project type: Research Module
Topic of the project: Expression of genes of the arylhydrocarbon-receptor (AHR)-pathway in different organs of juvenile rats
Short description: The arylhydrocarbon receptor is part of a gene set which has a protective role for mammals. The aim of this project is to establish its expression in different organs of juvenile rats. Main techniques are RNA/DNA isolation and qPCR. The project does not contain animal experimentation, tissue samples are already present.
Desired period: 12/2024 and 01/2025
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. T. Plösch
Application deadline: Registration completed.

2)
Target group of students: Molecular Bioscience, Master
Project type: Master Research
Project topic: Epigenetic regulation of the arylhydrocarbon-receptor (AHR)-pathway in different organs of juvenile rats
Short description: The arylhydrocarbon receptor is part of a gene set which has a protective role for mammals. It is partially regulated by DNA methylation. The aim of this project is to investigate its DNA methylation pattern in different organs of juvenile rats and correlate it to expression. Furthermore, a possible influence of hypoxia/ischemia will be studied. Main techniques are RNA/DNA isolation, qPCR, and pyrosequencing. The project does not contain animal experimentation, tissue samples are already present.
Desired start date: 03-08/2025
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. T. Plösch
Application deadline: January 15, 2025
 

3)
Target group of students: Medicine or Molecular Bioscience, Master
Project type: LFC or Research Module
Project topic: Die epigenetische Uhr beim Menschen und der Ratte (Literaturstudie) / Comparison of epigenetic aging in human and rats (literature work)
Brief description: Some DNA methylation patterns correlate with biological or chronological age. In humans, these can be measured using microarray technology. Less is known about this in rats. This is a knowledge gap that we want to close in order to be able to measure ageing in this model organism as well. In this literature study, the known literature is to be recorded, compared and examined for possible new approaches.
Desired start date: 05-06/2025
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. T. Plösch
Application deadline: January 15, 2025

4)
Target group of students: Medicine
Project type: LFC
Project topic: Theoretical design of a test and evaluation procedure for odor perception in preterm and term-born infants using NIRS
Brief description: Background: The development of the human olfactory system is not completed until after birth, but the perception and processing of odors takes place from the 28th week of pregnancy (Sarnat & Flores-Sarnat 2019). It is known that newborns recognize odor stimuli to which they were exposed in the amniotic fluid as a fetus (Schaal et al. 2000) and it is assumed that odors are involved in the establishment of the mother-child bond and the breastfeeding relationship, among other things, and thus play an important role in early human development (Schaal et al. 2020). Prematurity is associated with exposure to odors that differ fundamentally from the natural olfactory environment: There is a premature perception of odor stimuli via the air instead of the amniotic fluid, olfactory contact with the mother is limited due to the inpatient stay and the premature infant is exposed to potentially unpleasant odor stimuli (e.g. disinfectants). In addition, necessary respiratory support measures generally restrict olfactory perception. Whether this has consequences for the development and functionality of olfactory perception is not yet known. Classical olfactory tests are only applicable from the age of around 6 years. For this reason, the LFC project aims to develop a potential method for odor testing in infants that is based on NIRS measurements and thus allows statements to be made about the physiological reactions to defined odor stimuli. The long-term goal is to be able to make comparisons between premature and full-term infants in this age group in later studies.
Tasks/goals:

• To compile the current state of scientific knowledge on the topic on the basis of a literature search in specialist databases and to identify important aspects
• Compilation of suitable odors for odor stimulation during the NIRS measurements (if necessary, contact and communicate with institutions that carry out olfactory tests on children)
• Creation of a detailed test protocol on the basis of which tests could be carried out on infants (setting, procedure, measurement parameters, data recording and evaluation, draft of information/education sheets for parents)

The work is structured in such a way that a subsequent doctorate is possible. (Conducting a (pilot) study based on the designed protocol.)
Literature:
SarnatHB, Flores-Sarnat L. Development of the human olfactory system. Handb Clin Neurol. 2019;164:29-45.3. 
Schaal B, Marlier L, Soussignan R. Human foetuses learn odors fromtheir pregnant mother's diet. Chem Senses. 2000;25(6):729-37.4 Romantshik O, Porter RH, Tillmann V, influenceshuman olfactory function. Physiol Behav. 2023;262:114090.
Schaal B, Saxton TK, Loos H, Soussignan R, Durand K. Olfactionscaffolds the developing human from neonate to adolescent and be-yond. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1800;2020(375):20190261.2.
Desired start date: Flexible (possible from mid-November)
Supervisor: Dr. rer.nat. C. Hinz and Dr. M. Lange
Application deadline: REGISTRATION FINISHED

5)
Target group of students: Medicine
Project type: LFC
Project topic: Diagnostic significance of VOCs (Volatile Orcanic Compounds) in neonatology (LFC work)

• Literature search in common scientific databases
• Creation of a structured overview with regard to the current state of research (scientific studies on defined clinical pictures from neonatology (e.g. necrotizing enterocolitis or sepsis) in which VOCs are of diagnostic importance are to be summarized. Systematic recording of the methodology used)

Application deadline: 31.01.2025
Start date: flexible
Contact persons for queries:l or
Literature:

1. Farghaly MAA, Abuelazm S, Elgendy MM, Grove D, Abu-shaweesh JM, Dweik RA, et al. Volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath of newborns: a pilot study. Journal of Perinatology. 2024.
2. Course C, Watkins WJ, Müller CT, Odd D, Kotecha S, Chakraborty M. Volatile organic compounds as disease predictors in newborn infants: a systematic review.J Breath Res. 2021;15(2).
3.de Kroon RR, Frerichs NM, Struys EA, de Boer NK, de Meij TGJ, Niemarkt HJ.The Potential of Fecal Volatile Organic Compound Analysis for the Early Diagnosis of Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants: A Narrative Review. Sensors (Basel). 2024;24(10).
4.Bous M, Tutdibi E, Nourkami-Tutdibi N, Kaiser E, Stutz R, Meyer S, et al. Patterns of volatile organic compounds in excrements of preterm neonates.Eur J Clin Invest. 2023;53(1):e13868.
5.Niemarkt HJ, De Meij TG, van Ganzewinkel CJ, de Boer NKH, Andriessen P, Hütten MC, et al.Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Gut Microbiota, and Brain Development: Role of the Brain-Gut Axis. Neonatology. 2019;115(4):423-31.
6.Berkhout DJC, Niemarkt HJ, Benninga MA, Budding AE, van Kaam AH, Kramer BW, et al. Development of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with alterations in fecal volatile organic compounds. Pediatric Research. 2018;83(2):412-9.
7.Howarth C, Banerjee J, Eaton S, Aladangady N. Biomarkers of gut injury in neonates - where are we in predicting necrotising enterocolitis?Front Pediatr. 2022;10:1048322.
8.Steinbach J, Goedicke-Fritz S, Tutdibi E, Stutz R, Kaiser E, Meyer S, et al.Bedside Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere of Neonatal Incubators Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry.Front Pediatr. 2019;7:248.

6)
Target group of students: Medicine
Project type: LFC
Project topic: Relevance of the volatinome in diagnostics (LFC work)

• Literature search in common scientific databases
• Creation of a structured overview of the current state of research (existing clinical application examples, relevant clinical pictures and volatile substances should be summarized)

Start date: flexible
Application deadline: 31.01.2025
Contact persons for queries: or
Literature:

1.Oxner M, Trang A, Mehta J, Forsyth C, Swanson B, Keshavarzian A, et al. The Versatility and Diagnostic Potential of VOC Profiling for Noninfectious Diseases.BME Front. 2023;4:0002.
2.Heers H, Gut JM, Hofmann R, Flegar L, Derigs M, Huber J, et al.Pilot study for bladder cancer detection with volatile organic compounds using ion mobility spectrometry: a novel urine-based approach. World J Urol. 2024;42(1):353.
3.P H, Rangarajan M, Pandya HJ. Breath VOC analysis and machine learning approaches for disease screening: a review.J Breath Res. 2023;17(2).

7)
Target group of students: Medicine
Project type: LFC
Topic of the project: Possible applications of electronic noses in diagnostics and clinical care and their relevance in pediatrics (LFC work)

• Literature search in common scientific databases
• Creation of a structured overview of the current state of research (all existing and potential applications should be summarized. Systematic recording of the devices currently in use).

Start date: flexible
Application deadline: 31.01.2025
Contact persons for queries: odercornelia.hinz@uni-oldenburg.de
Literature:

1.Rodríguez-Aguilar M, Ramírez-García S, Ilizaliturri-Hernández C, Gómez-Gómez A, Van-Brussel E, Díaz-Barriga F, et al.Ultrafast gas chromatography coupled to electronic nose to identify volatile biomarkers in exhaled breath from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A pilot study. Biomed Chromatogr. 2019;33(12):e4684.
2.Wilson AD. Noninvasive Early Disease Diagnosis by Electronic-Nose and Related VOC-Detection Devices. Biosensors (Basel). 2020;10(7).
3. Behera B, Joshi R, Anil Vishnu GK, Bhalerao S, Pandya HJ. Electronic nose: a non-invasive technology for breath analysis of diabetes and lung cancer patients. J Breath Res. 2019;13(2):024001.
4.Dragonieri S, Pennazza G, Carratu P, Resta O. Electronic Nose Technology in Respiratory Diseases. Lung. 2017;195(2):157-65.