PhD Student – Bioinformatics / Computational Biology (m/f/d) Part-time

Join our exciting mission to decode leukemic dormancy and plasticity in AML!

The research group of Dr. Junyan Lu (https://lu-group-ukhd.github.io/) at the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Irmela Jeremias, invites applications for a PhD student in Bioinformatics / Computational Biology as part of the CRC1709-funded project “Plastic growth behaviour of patients’ AML in vivo: Releasing dormant cells from their protective niche.”.

We are an interdisciplinary and collaborative research team at the forefront of multi-omics data integration, cancer systems biology, and single-cell analysis, with strong links to clinical and translational oncology. Our work is based in the dynamic research environment of Heidelberg University, one of Europe’s leading biomedical institutions.

This position focuses on unraveling the regulatory networks underlying dormancy and therapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Using advanced computational tools and single-cell multi-omics data (CITE-seq, proteomics, transcriptomics, methylation, metabolomics), we aim to: 1) Identify surface molecules specific to dormant leukemic stem cells; 2) Model AML plasticity at the single-cell level 3) Propose candidate therapeutic targets for in vivo validation.

The PhD student will be embedded in a collaborative and supportive team, working closely with the wet-lab PhD student from the team of Prof. Dr. Jeremias. The student will also benefit from close integration into the CRC1709 network.

Your Key Tasks:

• Analyze bulk and single-cell multi-omics data generated from in vivo AML models
• Curate and integrate public datasets (e.g. scRNA-seq) to derive prior knowledge on AML dormancy
• Develop and apply integrative data analysis pipelines (e.g. MOFA, Scriabin, LIANA+, COSMOS) for mining and interpreting multi-omic datasets
• Perform ligand-receptor and network-based modeling of cell-cell interactions
• Communicate findings through presentations, publications, and consortium meetings

You Profile: 

• MSc in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, or a related field
• Strong programming skills in R and/or Python
• Experience with single-cell or multi-omics data analysis
• Interest in cancer biology, particularly leukemia, and therapy resistance mechanisms
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams
• Prior experience with network modeling or machine learning is a plus

We offer: 

• Goal-oriented, individual training and development opportunities
• Working with the latest techniques / technical equipment, access to cutting-edge datasets and high-performance computing infrastructure
• Attend domestic and international conferences
• Regular team meetings
• Close collaboration within SFB/CRC1709
• Collectively agreed remuneration, attractive company pension scheme (VBL)
• 30 days vacation
• Home office and mobile working opportunities
• Sustainable travel: job ticket
• Family-friendly working environment: cooperative arrangements for childcare, subsidy for child vacation care, advice for employees with relatives in need of care

Tagged as: Data Science, Life Sciences