Postdoctoral Position for Cancer Evolution

Reference number: 2025-0112

• Heidelberg
• Full-time
• Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution

“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 Department Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg is offering for the next possible date a 

  Your European Future Starts in Heidelberg!

The Odom laboratory is an experimental genomics laboratory which is located in the German Cancer Research Center at the University of Heidelberg, where we investigate the basic genomic mechanisms that underlie mutagenesis. The DKFZ is a fully bilingual institute, where English language is used in all scientific discourse, and, despite its cozy size, Heidelberg is a famously international city.

Our laboratory has developed a powerful, highly controlled cancer induction system using chemical carcinogenesis in mice, which complements and deeply enriches the large-scale patient cohorts characterized over the past decade. Our approach resulted in the discovery of how unrepaired DNA lesions persist after chemical insults, resulting in large-scale polarization of mutations in cancer genomes (Connor 2018, Aitken 2020, Anderson 2024), as well as how genetic background shapes the trajectory of cancer evolution (Aitken 2025). We also repurpose technologies like microfluidics to better understand the molecular landscape of the earliest mitoses after mutagenesis (Ginno 2024).

Your Tasks

We are seeking an ambitious postdoctoral researcher to lead a team of technicians, masters, and graduate students to pioneer our next generation of discoveries. Experimental expertise in molecular and genome biology, computational fluency, and proven collaborative leadership are all absolutely required for this position. We have strong and long-standing alliances with the computational laboratories of Moritz Gerstung, Oliver Stegle, Angela Goncalves, and Jan Korbel, with whom joint appointments are common. Our laboratory’s philosophy is to hire the right person, and then together we shape a cutting-edge project to bridge the candidate’s interest and expertises with our current programs.

Our current research programs intersect large-scale genetic analysis utilizing experimental models, spatial biology, single-cell sequencing, tumorigenesis and mutagenesis. We have several running projects and new opportunities to delve into fundamental forces driving tumorigenesis, tumor evolution and spatial biology. We are investigating the principles of lesion segregation, see above, which is a mechanism underlying the acquisition and passage of somatic lesions throughout tumor progression. We also study sex-specific molecular differences within the acquisition and maintenance of malignancies, the identification and classification of cellular populations and niches and the development of both classical and AI/ML-based computational approaches to condense and interpret the full breadth of genetic and molecular changes associated with cancer inception.

We encourage applications from any scientifically qualified candidates, regardless of gender identity, disability, national origin, or any other demographic or personal factors. 

Your Profile

• A Ph.D. degree in molecular or cancer biology
• A strong background in experimental design and execution, along with associated computational competence (Please note: this specific job is not suitable for computational-only scientists)
• Strong track record in scientific communication, as evidenced by publication history
• Strong track record of collaborative work across discipline boundaries
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Evidence of collaborativity, creativity, and leadership

Knowledge within the following fields is a plus:

• Prior experience working in the field of molecular oncology
• Prior experience working with large-scale sequencing efforts
  (whole genome, whole transcriptome, methylation, single-cell sequencing)
• Prior experience working with spatial biology approaches, and early-adoption of cutting-edge technologies
• Prior experience working with Linux and high performance clusters (HPC)
• R/Python and Snakemake or Nextflow (or comparable platforms).

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: 06.05.2025

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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