PhD position - Co-regulation structures for large-scale single-cell transcriptomics - within the HDS-LEE graduate school

Your Job:

• Develop methods and workflows to construct robust co-regulation networks from large single-cell and spatial transcriptomics datasets
  
• Integrate ontologies and metadata (e.g., tissue, cell type, developmental stage, treatment) to build tissue- and context-specific co-regulation networks
  
• Design and implement clustering and integration approaches (e.g., network-based and subspace clustering)
  
• Use co-regulation networks for gene function and protein–protein functional relationship prediction (guilt-by-association), and benchmark them against existing bulk co-expression resources
  
• Compare and optimise the developed methods on real biological datasets; work closely with experimental partners for interpretation and validation of results
  
• Contribute to the integration of the developed methods into open-source software tools and data portals of the institute • Collaborate with internal and external, as well as national and international, project partners
  
• Present your results at national and international conferences
  
• Prepare scientific publications and project reports

Your Profile:

• Genuine interest in data science and one or more of its application domains: life and medical sciences, earth sciences, energy systems, or material sciences
  
• A Masters degree with a strong academic background in mathematics, computer science, physics, material science, earth science, life science, engineering, or a related field
  
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, R, C++, Julia, …)
  
• Good analytical skills with a sound understanding of data evaluation
  
• Prior experience with single-cell data analysis, network analysis, or machine learning are a plus
  
• Good organisational skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  
• Effective communication skills and an interest in contributing to a highly international and interdisciplinary team
  
• Motivation for academic development, supported by bachelor’s and master’s transcripts and two reference letters
  
• Working proficiency in English for daily communication and professional contexts.(TOEFL or equivalent or exemption required)
  
• Knowledge of German is beneficial

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! This HDS-LEE PhD position will be located at Forschungszentrum Jülich, HHU Düsseldorf and Aarhus. We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Outstanding scientific and technical infrastructure
  
• Cutting Edge data are available for analysis
  
• Highly motivated groups as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment at one of Europe’s largest research establishments
  
• Continuous scientific mentoring by your scientific advisors
  
• Chance of participating in (international) conferences
  
• Unique HDS-LEE graduate school program (including data science courses, soft skill courses and annual retreats) https://www.hds-lee.de/about/
  
• Qualification that is highly welcome in industry
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. via a comprehensive further training program; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/judocs
  
• 30 Days of annual leave and flexible working arrangements, including partial remote work
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  

The position is initially limited to three years, with a planned one-year extension. Pay in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich (including its various branch offices) is available at https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/careers/phd

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options for women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey