Postdoc

About the company

At the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, scientists investigate the mechanisms of infectious diseases and their defense. We systematically develop the results of basic research towards medical application. The task of the center is to contribute to overcoming the challenges that infectious diseases pose to medicine and society in the 21st century. The HZI stands for excellent, responsible, and transparent research, diversity, equal opportunity, promotion of talent, and compatibility of family and career. We design research as well as all supporting structures according to the current requirements of sustainability and development. Similarly, we value high standards in occupational, health, and environmental protection for our employees.

TWINCORE is a joint facility of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) and the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH). At TWINCORE, medical doctors and basic scientists conduct research together in infection research, particularly at the interface between basic research and clinical development. This basic research aims to develop new therapies and diagnostic procedures for patients while simultaneously finding answers to questions from clinical practice.

The CiiM was founded in 2015 as a joint initiative of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) and the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) and is the first research institute explicitly dedicated to the development of personalized medicine for infections. The departments and groups of the CiiM work towards the vision of treating infection patients in a tailored and optimized manner according to the specific needs and requirements of each individual. To achieve this, the CiiM is dedicated to researching individual characteristics and their influence on susceptibility to infections or the success of treatment with available therapies. Job advertisement No. 754 The research group "Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine" under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Yang Li at the Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) is looking for a(n)

Your tasks

Infections and their consequences are still responsible for one in five deaths worldwide. In this context, emerging and recurring pathogens, chronic infections, and increasing resistance to approved drugs present doctors with new challenges. The CiiM was founded in 2015 as a joint initiative of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) and the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) and is the first research institute explicitly dedicated to the development of personalized medicine for infections. The departments and groups of the CiiM work towards the vision of treating infection patients in a tailored and optimized manner according to the specific needs and requirements of each individual. To achieve this, the CiiM is dedicated to researching individual characteristics and their influence on susceptibility to infections or the success of treatment with available therapies. The department "Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine" investigates the interaction between genetic background and the environment as well as their influence on infection- and immune-related diseases. The focus is on the application and development of computer-aided and statistical approaches to investigate the effects of genetic factors on various molecular levels (such as genetics, genomics, metabolomics, etc.), on immunological parameters and functions, as well as on complex diseases, in order to capture inter-individual differences in infection- and immune-related diseases. Infections and their sequelae are still responsible for every fifth death worldwide. In this context, emerging and recurring pathogens, chronic infections, and increasing resistance to approved drugs continue to present doctors with new challenges. A central goal of the Postdoc position is to identify actionable entry points and biomarkers that can support risk stratification and serve as a guide for measures to maintain or restore immune competence in vulnerable populations. The work of the scientific staff in the Postdoc program will combine the integration of Multi-Omics data, high-dimensional immunophenotyping, and single-cell profiling to characterize immune states and link them to clinically relevant infection and vaccination outcomes. These tasks await you:

• Analysis and integration of Multi-Omics and single-cell Omics data from various cohorts
• Evaluation of results together with cooperation partners
• Taking on a leading role in the creation and revision of manuscripts
• Supervision of Bachelor's and Master's students as well as doctoral students
• Presentation of data at local, national, and international scientific conferences

Requirements

Your qualifications and skills

• Completed studies/diploma or doctorate in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/Statistics/Informatics or a related field of life sciences
• Evidence of scientific publications
• Knowledge of computer programming (e.g., R, Java, Perl) as well as experience with various operating systems (Linux, Windows)
• Very good communication and reporting skills
• Very good English skills (written and spoken)
• Ability to work independently and as part of an international team

Advantageous for this position

• Commitment and dedication to be successful in science, as well as result orientation
• Critical scientific attitude
• Practical experience in the molecular biology laboratory

What we offer

• An attractive and varied activity in a future-oriented research institute
• A state-of-the-art infrastructure and most modern technologies
• Flexible working hours, part-time models, and home office
• A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunity
• Extensive training and further education opportunities to develop professional knowledge and personal skills
• A family office to support family and career as well as childcare offers
• Interesting additional benefits of the public service
• Possibility of an employer subsidy for the Jobticket

Other

In the case of equal professional suitability, persons with severe disabilities will be given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable indication of the existence of a severe disability in your cover letter or CV. The employment is through the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH (HZI) in Braunschweig. The place of work is Hannover. The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity, and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men. The position is suitable for part-time. Start date: At the earliest possible date, initially limited until 30.09.2028 Remuneration: E 13 TV EntGO Bund Working hours: 39.00 hours per week Work location: Hannover Probationary period: 6 months Application deadline: 05.11.2026 Further information regarding the advertised position can be obtained from Prof. Yang Li, telephone 0511 22002 720, E-mail: yang.li@helmholtz-hzi.de or via this link. Please apply via our career portal. Please include a cover letter, a CV, (work) references, certificates, and (if available) work samples or reference projects with your application documents. Please refrain from sending a photo. We look forward to your application!