Group Leader – New Strategies for Female-Controlled Non-Hormonal Contraception

What we are looking for

The BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg is establishing a new, fully funded research group in the following field: New Strategies for Female-Controlled Non-Hormonal Contraception.

If you hold a PhD with an outstanding track record or strong interest in the fields of women’s health, we invite you to apply with a project proposal for a position in our new research group (1 group leader, 2 postdoctoral researchers).

This call for application is supported by the Gates Foundation.

Family planning is one of the most cost-effective interventions to reduce maternal, infant, and child mortality, while empowering women and catalyzing economic development. Despite the availability of a variety of modern contraceptive methods, over 200 million women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) continue to face an unmet need.

Current options – primarily hormonal – are not meeting many women’s needs. Side effects, especially changes in bleeding patterns, contribute to high discontinuation rates (up to 40% within the first year). These challenges are compounded by access barriers and sociocultural norms, leaving many women without viable, acceptable choices.

There is an urgent need for female-controlled, non-hormonal contraceptive solutions that significantly differ from currently available products, are safe, effective, reversible, and culturally acceptable – especially in LMICs.

We invite transformative research proposals that explore new biological targets, molecular mechanisms, or delivery modalities for continuous and/or on-demand non-hormonal contraception for women.

Major objectives:

• Identification and/or validation of innovative non-hormonal mechanisms of action for a continuous and/or on-demand methods (systemic or intravaginal).
• Demonstration of contraceptive efficacy in vitro and/or in vivo, with attention to safety, tolerability, maintenance of a natural bleeding cycle, and reversibility.

Mechanisms of interest:

• Follicle maturation and ovulation
• Sperm function within the female reproductive tract
• Gamete interaction through fertilization and up to implantation
• Effects on the endometrium

With attention to:

• Safety and tolerability
• Maintenance of natural bleeding cycles
• Efficacy and reversibility of contraceptive effect

We will not consider proposals focused on:

• Systemic sex hormones or hormone-like effects
• Male contraceptive discovery and development
• Post-implantation mechanisms
• Adjunct molecules for co-delivery with hormonal regimens
• Barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps or intrauterine approaches
• Basic reproductive biology without a clear link to non-hormonal contraceptive discovery
• Permanent contraception

We strongly encourage proposals that demonstrate originality, leverage interdisciplinary insights, and are responsive to real-world needs of women – particularly those in LMICs. We especially welcome approaches that can lead to discreet, self-administered, affordable products with potential for high user satisfaction.

Please note that generic project proposals which were generated by large language models such as ChatGPT will not be considered.

Group leader positions are intended to suit candidates with a PhD (or equivalent) in women’s health or in a related area who would like to develop themselves towards a leadership career path either in academia or industry and have typically between three and six years of relevant postdoctoral research experience.

Candidates for postdoctoral positions are expected to have completed a PhD (or equivalent) within the last three years and a certain degree of specialization in one or more relevant cutting-edge technologies.

What we offer

• A position in a fully funded research group with an annual budget of $900,000. The funding package covers salaries, consumables, services, travel costs, overhead, as well as access to the core facilities on the campus of the University of Heidelberg.
• An initial term of two years, with the possibility of extending up to a total of five years or transition into a startup company.
• An exciting research opportunity in a multidisciplinary and international research institution with a collegial and flexible working environment.
• Participation in the BioMed X Boot Camp where you learn how to build a compelling pitch presentation in only 5 days.

There is flexibility over starting dates, but successful applicants are welcome to take up post starting June 1, 2026.

Application & Selection Process

• Please apply online at https://career.bmedx.com/registration/2025-XFL-C01.
• As part of the online application process, you will be asked to submit: (i) A competitive project proposal that gives us an idea of your scientific expertise and creative potential (3-5 pages describing your unique experimental approach) and (ii) Your curriculum vitae including your publication record.
• Deadline for applications: December 7, 2025.
• After a first selection round, candidates will be invited to a five-day innovation boot camp in Heidelberg from February 9 to 13, 2026.

With guidance of experienced mentors, candidates will jointly work on their project proposals and present them in front of a jury on the final day. Successful candidates will be offered a position at the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg.

About BioMed X

BioMed X is an independent research institute with sites in Heidelberg, Germany, New Haven, Connecticut, XSeed Labs in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a worldwide network of partner locations. We operate at the interface between academia and industry, performing biomedical research and drug discovery & development in the fields of oncology, immunology, neuroscience, women’s health, cardiometabolic diseases, platform technologies, and artificial intelligence.

All our research projects are supported by leading pharmaceutical companies or other external funding sources and conducted by early-career scientists recruited from the best schools around the world. The combination of global crowdsourcing with local incubation of the best research talents and ideas allows us to solve the biggest challenges in biomedical research.

We stand for free, creative, and curiosity-driven research combined with a solid validation of results, timelines, and deliverables. We serve a large purpose in advancing translational biomedicine by leveraging synergies and fostering cross-pollination across disciplines.