Academic Researcher (f/m/d) Full-time

MorphoSphere Project

The new MorphoSphere project develops an advanced data management architecture for distributed, smart, and interactive storage and analysis of series of large 3D tomographic datasets. It integrates large-scale imaging facilities (PETRA III at DESY, KIT Light Source), high-performance computing and data facilities at DESY, KIT and the University of Heidelberg, and scientific communities to optimize data transfer, processing, and visualization, thereby accelerating scientific discovery across diverse research domains.

Your Tasks

• Research lossless and lossy compression methods and analyze the image-processing pipelines employed by users
• Evaluate these methods on real datasets and develop a compression technique that achieve the highest possible compression ratio while preserving details essential for further processing
• Implement automated data-reduction workflows and integrate them with data-ingestion streams to storage facilities
• Develop a data access framework ensuring transparent access to compressed data for all user applications
• Leverage caching techniques to minimize data-loading latency for full datasets and subsets as required by user applications
• Publish a study on data compression and document the developed software

Your Profile

• A completed master's degree in computer science, mathematics, or related disciplines
• Strong understanding of system design principles with emphasis on performance, scalability, and architectural trade-offs
• Ability to reason about and justify architectural decisions under real-world constraints
• Proficiency in programming, particularly with C and Python
• Work experience with image-processing
• Fluency with Linux
• Experience with compression techniques, advanced databases, virtual file systems, HPC, and parallel programming with OpenCL/CUDA is a plus

We Offer

• Science for Impact: Engage with topics of societal relevance — in an excellent scientific environment that enables change.
• Flexible Working Hours: Take advantage of flexible‑hours schemes, remote‑work options, part‑time models, and a 30‑day annual leave entitlement to achieve an optimal work‑life balance.
• Career‑Building and Developmental Opportunities: We provide you with a structured onboarding program, a broad spectrum of continuing‑education options, and personalised support, thereby fostering your individual growth.
• Family-friendliness: The “KIT‑Family +” program assists you in reconciling work and family life by offering childcare services, holiday activities, a parent‑child office space, and assistance with caring for relatives.
• Stay Healthy: Under the motto “Fit at KIT – Body, Mind and Soul,” we promote your well‑being through fitness classes, mental‑health programmes, and regular preventive health examinations.
• Individualised Extra Benefits: Enjoy a corporate pension (VBL), a €25 monthly contribution toward a JobTicket BW, plus a broad selection of cultural and recreational programmes.

Job location: Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (and Karlsruhe)

Salary: Salary category 13 TV-L; classification is based on personal and professional qualifications.

Contract duration: until 2028-10-31

Contact person in line-management: Dr. Suren Chilingaryansuren.chilingaryan@kit.edu

If you have general questions about the application process, please contact Daniela Wörner Personalservice (PSE) daniela.woerner@kit.edu +49 721 608-25006

At KIT we value the diversity of our employees; different perspectives and backgrounds enrich our work. We therefore welcome applications from all candidates. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Applications from recognized severely disabled individuals are given preferential consideration when qualifications are equal.

Application up to: 2026-07-09 Job posting number: 239/2026