PhD Student (Part-time 65%) - Biophysics (Medical Physicist)

The GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt operates one of the leading particle accelerator facilities for science. Currently, the new FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) facility is being built in international cooperation, one of the largest research projects worldwide. GSI and FAIR offer the opportunity to work in this international environment with a team of employees who are dedicated every day to conducting science at a world-class level.

The Biophysics department of GSI is highly interdisciplinary. The multidisciplinary research covers a wide range of topics – from radiation biology, radiation physics, and space research to radiotherapy.

The radiobiological modeling group focuses on the development of strategies and mathematical models to understand and predict the biological effects of particle radiation based on the underlying physics, biology, and physiology. As part of the research project PIANOFORTE-PRESTO (PRotontherapy Enhancement by Spatially Fractionated Treatment Optimization), we are looking for a

PhD Student (Part-time 65%)

Reference number: 26.125-1530

While conventional therapeutic irradiation procedures in tumor treatment usually aim for a homogeneous dose distribution, it has been shown that the application of extremely inhomogeneous fields in the (sub-) millimeter range – so-called "minibeams" – allows for the sparing of normal tissue without compromising the healing success in the tumor. This represents both an option and a challenge for radiation planning, as there are currently no approaches to predict the reaction of normal tissue to such inhomogeneous fields.

Mathematical modeling, incorporating physical and biological aspects, offers a tool to address this issue. Within the framework of the project, a prediction model for radiation exposure at the cell and tissue level is to be further developed and validated; the systematic investigation of different irradiation scenarios should finally enable the derivation of optimized treatment strategies in the PRESTO project, which can be applied in radiation planning.

Your profile:

• Master's degree and specialist knowledge in the physics of complex systems, medical physics, or a related field
• Curiosity, openness, and the ability to collaborate in an international, multidisciplinary team
• Basic knowledge of numerical methods
• Basic programming skills, e.g., in Python, Mathematica, or similar languages
• Fluent English skills, both written and spoken
• German language skills are an advantage.

We offer an interesting and varied activity in an internationally renowned research institution.

The position is limited to 3 years. The salary is based on the TVöD (Bund) collective agreement.

GSI promotes the professional development of women and welcomes applications from women who feel particularly addressed by this announcement.

Severely disabled persons will receive preference if they have equal qualifications.

Further information about GSI and FAIR can be found at www.gsi.de (http://www.gsi.de) as well as www.fair-center.eu (http://www.fair-center.eu).

Please send your complete application documents, including your salary expectations, stating the reference number 26.125-1530 by 04.09.2026 via the online portal on our website.

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH

Abteilung Personal

Planckstraße 1

64291 Darmstadt