W3 Professorship in Experimental Sports Medicine (female/male/diverse)
With more than 6.000 students from 93 countries, the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) is an outstanding university location both nationally and internationally. The GSU stands for proven research with a high volume of third-party funding and research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and in all social and life science sub-disciplines of sport science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and central operating units with their services.
At the German Sport University Cologne, the Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine is seeking to fill a vacancy to head the Section Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine as of April 01, 2027:
W3 Professorship in Experimental Sports Medicine (female/male/diverse).
We are looking for a candidate with an internationally recognized track record who can represent the full spectrum of basic research in sports medicine in both research and teaching. The chairholder is expected to represent molecular and cellular sports medicine — with potential for practical application — in research and teaching for the following fields:
- Exercise and sports therapy for various chronic conditions
- Prevention, prehabilitation, and rehabilitation
- Competitive sports.
The tasks of the professorship include collaboration in the Bachelor's, Master's, teacher training, and doctoral degree programs as well as in the academic self-administration of the university. The German Sport University Cologne pursues the goal of promoting (inter-) disciplinary and cooperative research. Accordingly, basic research should focus on interdisciplinary, interconnected topics in the fields of sports and health that can be applied to clinical sports medicine, exercise physiology, and exercise science. Furthermore, basic research should have high translational potential for AI-supported personalization of training interventions in the aforementioned fields of application. Participation in joint research activities of the Institute and the University as well as the successful acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects should be an integral part of the professorship's remit.
Requirements for employment pursuant to § 36 of the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia are:
- a completed degree in human medicine with a medical license
- Ph.D. or equivalent
- Appropriate pedagogical/educational skills,
- Post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) or equivalent academic achievements.
Applicants are expected to have:
- Several years of experience in basic medical research and an internationally recognized publication record in the context of the position
- Proven expertise in experimental models (e.g., innovative cell culture and/or animal models or genetic technologies) and a broad methodological range in cell and molecular biology
- Experience with performance physiology and performance biology research methods
- Research experience with multiple disease enti-ties and organ systems, particularly the heart, skeletal muscles, and the immune system
- Translational research with recognizable potential for application in sports medicine practice, as well as collaborations with clinical sports medicine
- Successful acquisition of competitive third-party funding
- a proven track record of national and international collaboration in multidisciplinary research consortia
- Positively evaluated and/or awardwinning teaching
- Competencies in the area of personnel management and development and academic self-administration
- Interdisciplinary compatibility with existing and developing research projects at the GSU.
Desirable are:
- Experience in the (further) development of degree programs and/or teaching formats
- English-language teaching skills
- Experience abroad in academic institutions
- Ability to connect with the German Research Center for Competitive Sports Cologne (momentum).
The position entails a teaching obligation of 9 SWS.
International applicants are expected to be able to offer German-language courses within six semesters.
The German Sport University Cologne sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. Increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching is one of the university's strategic goals; qualified female academics are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.
Women are given preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equality Act. Severely disabled persons and persons of equal status are very welcome and will be given preferential consideration within the framework of the statutory provisions.
The German Sport University Cologne offers an excellent academic environment, a wide range of professional development programmes, and support in balancing family and career.
Please send your application with the usual documents, in particular a description of your professional career, a list of publications, and a selection of important publications, quoting the reference number 2624-Prof-exp.Sportmed. by 01. September 2026 in the form of a pdf file exclusively to the e-mail address bewerbung@dshs-koeln.de. Please attach the completed file "GSU-self-disclosure-professorship-application" to your application. This file is available on the job advertisement page, which can be found here.
Please also visit our homepage www.dshs-koeln.de. There, at www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/, you will also find information on the handling of your personal data transmitted for the purpose of your application.