(Senior) Bioinformatician

Reference number: 2025-0109

• Dresden
• Full-time
• Translational Medical Oncology

“Research for a life without cancer" is our mission at the German Cancer Research Center. We investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and look for new cancer prevention strategies. We develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. Every contribution counts – whether in research, administration or infrastructure. This is what makes our daily work so meaningful and exciting.

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) is a long-term cooperation between the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), excellent partners in university medicine and other research institutions at six locations in Germany. The goal of the NCT is to bring promising results from cancer research into clinical application quickly and safely. This approach is intended to provide cancer patients with nationwide access to innovative treatment options.

One of the six NCT sites is the NCT Dresden (NCT/UCC), which is a collaboration between the DKFZ, the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (UCC), the Carl Gustav Carus Medical Faculty of the TU Dresden and the Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).

The Department for Translational Medical Oncology is looking for as soon as possible a 

  NCT and DKFZ have laid the groundwork to address new challenges in personalized oncology through the MASTER program. This prospective registry trial employs very comprehensive molecular profiling and integrated data analysis (WGS/WES, RNA sequencing, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling; whenever possible mass spectrometry-based (phosphor)proteomics, ex vivo drug sensitivity profiling and spatial resolution of the immune environment). Based on the MASTER workflow we provide clinically relevant management recommendations in a multicenter molecular tumor board (MTB) and follow-up on clinical management of patients. The resulting multidimensional clinical and molecular dataset has kick-started very successful interdisciplinary research projects (e.g. Heining et al. Cancer Discov 2018, Gröschel et al. Nat Commun 2019, Horak et al. Cancer Discov 2021, Möhrmann et al. Nat Commun 2022, Jahn et al. Ann Oncol 2022).

The Department for Translational Medical Oncology investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms for cancer development, proliferation and evolution. The department engages in clinical as well as experimental activities to ensure a rapid turnaround of scientific results into clinical application and clinical outcome into new hypotheses. Experimentally, high-throughput, multi-parametric molecular profiling is used to discover differences in the genome of tumor and normal cells to identify novel targets for cancer therapy on the genomic or cellular level. Suitable model systems are developed and used to functionally and mechanistically characterize the impact of novel targets and assess their potential for clinical application.

Your Tasks

To strengthen our expertise in bioinformatics and machine learning, we are offering a position for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with significant experience in bioinformatics, ideally in the field of cancer research. The position is integrated in a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, scientists and bioinformaticians and has access to the MASTER dataset. They will be given the opportunity to develop their own research profile and standing in precision oncology and are expected to support the department’s research projects as well as write their own grant applications. They will drive their own research, analyzing NGS and other high-throughput data from patient cohorts and work on the development of improved NGS data analysis algorithms and design novel applications e.g. for the integration of different data types.

Your Profile

Applicants should

• hold a PhD degree (postdocs) in bioinformatics or/and life sciences, with an excellent background in NGS analysis and relevant experience in the field.
• have background knowledge in cancer genomics.
• be proficient in bash scripting and R and experience with cloud computing (required).
• be proficient with Python and Git (preferred).
• perform bioinformatical and statistical analysis of multi-tier molecular profiling data including NGS and single cell NGS and drive the development and implementation of new technologies.
• be highly self-motivated and be able to develop and pursue research projects independently as well as in collaborations.
• have excellent written and oral command of English and strong communication skills. German language skills are not required.

Applications should include a CV, cover letter, certificates, expected availability date, a complete list of publications and 2-3 references.

We Offer

Are you interested?

 Then become part of the DKFZ and join us in contributing to a life without cancer!

 ​Duration: The position is initially limited to 2 years with the possibility of prolongation.

Application Deadline: 07.05.2025

Applications by e-mail cannot be accepted.

Please also note that we cannot return applications submitted by post.

 

We are convinced that an innovative research and working environment thrives on the diversity of its employees. Therefore, we welcome applications from talented people, regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical ability, religion and age. People with severe disabilities are given preference if they have the same aptitude.

Notice: We are subject to the regulations of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). Therefore, all our employees must provide proof of immunity against measles.

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