PhD Candidates and Postdocs in Accessible Biomedical AI (f/m/x)

Organisation/Company Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt

Research Field: Medical sciences

Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)

Country: Germany

Application Deadline: 31 May 2025 - 15:14 (UTC)

Type of Contract: To be defined

Job Status: Other

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Area of research: Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Job description: PhD Candidates and Postdocs in Accessible Biomedical AI (f/m/x)

Full time: 39 hrs./week

Partial Home Office: possible

At Helmholtz Munich, we develop groundbreaking solutions for a healthier society in a rapidly changing world. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation, and through strong partnerships, we accelerate the transfer of new ideas from the lab to real-life applications, improving lives.

The group at Helmholtz Munich is dedicated to bridging the gap between data science and biomedical research, harnessing machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computational biology to tackle complex health challenges. Our newly established research group, funded in collaboration with the German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), is focusing on Accessible Biomedical AI. We aim to advance biomedical science by developing open-source, user-friendly AI software and by critically examining AI techniques for their effective application in health research.

Our recent achievements include:

• BioCypher: A knowledge graph builder framework for biomedical data.
• BioChatter: An LLM-driven developer toolkit that facilitates the deployment of current AI models in biomedical research.

We are looking to extend our work to natural language processing applied to information extraction from text, images, and other modalities. At a broader scale, we investigate how to understand and interpret AI systems—from small-scale linear models to large foundation models for text, images, and molecular entities—to improve impact and causality in biomedical research.

To further expand our team, we are looking for PhD candidates and/or postdocs (f/m/x).

As a PhD candidate or Postdoc in this group, you will:

• Drive AI Methodology: Develop and refine machine learning, deep learning, and knowledge graph-based approaches to integrate, analyze, and interpret biomedical data.
• Build Accessible Tools: Create open-source software frameworks (extending the BioCypher ecosystem) for researchers across disciplines to deploy AI solutions.
• Investigate Large Language & Multimodal Models: Extend AI techniques to textual and imaging data to deepen our understanding of model capabilities and limitations in biomedical contexts.
• Collaborate within a Multi-Disciplinary Network: Engage with researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the DZD, as well as existing project group members at Heidelberg University Hospital and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, Cambridge), benefiting from an extensive network of biomedical experts and clinicians.

Your profile:

• Educational Background: PhD applicants: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Physics, Mathematics, Bioinformatics, or a related field. Postdoc applicants: PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Machine Learning Expertise: Strong foundation in artificial intelligence, deep learning, or data science methods; familiarity with large language models (LLMs) or related NLP techniques is a plus.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in Python (preferred) or similar programming languages, with experience in ML/DL frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Research Software Engineering: Experience or strong interest, with a desire to work aligned with the principles of modern open source etiquette and workflows.
• Independence and Collaboration: Proven ability to work both independently and within a small, interdisciplinary team.
• Communication: Excellent written and spoken English; strong presentation and teamwork skills; openness to learning and tolerance of distinct communication styles across discipline boundaries.
• Curiosity and Motivation: Eagerness to drive scientific discoveries, contribute to open-source projects, and collaborate with experts in both computational and biomedical fields.

PhD position: Remuneration and social security benefits are based on the German Collective Wage Agreement for Public-Sector Employees at Federal Level (EG 13 50% TV EntgO Bund). In addition, there is also the possibility of receiving an allowance if the applicable conditions are met. The position has an (initial) fixed term of 3 years but may be extended under certain circumstances.

Postdoc position: If you fulfill all the requirements, you may be eligible for a salary grade of up to E 13. Social benefits are based on the Collective Wage Agreement for Public-Sector Employees (TVöD). The position has an (initial) fixed term of 3 years but may be extended under certain circumstances.

Managing Directors: Matthias Tschöp and Mike Frieser: „We believe that diversity is the key to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions. Our flexible working models and remote options create a supportive environment for balancing work and family life. For us, contributing to a healthier society in such an inspiring workplace is truly meaningful.“

Get to know us:

• Career Development: Postdoc program, scientific training & career center with tailored offers
• Scientific Resources: State-of-the-art infrastructure and Core Facilities
• Recreation: 30 days annual leave, flexi days, plus public holidays
• International Staff Service: Support with the relocation and integration process in Germany

Our recruiting is decentralized - your application will be reviewed directly by the specialist department in which you could work in the future.

Please send your application only via our online application tool and with the following documents:

• A cover letter describing your motivation and research interests
• Your CV
• Transcripts of all degrees obtained
• A list of publications (if applicable)
• The names and contact information of at least two references (up to five)

We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and welcome applications from talented people regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical abilities, religion or age. Qualified applicants with physical disabilities will be given preference.

Learn more about diversity at Helmholtz Munich

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.