We are offering a position, available starting 1st of June 2022, as a PhD candidate (m/f/d) in Computational Biology.
About us
The Schirmer lab is part of the ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health at the Technical University of Munich and located in Freising-Weihenstephan. The research of our lab focuses on the human microbiome, especially gut microbes, and investigates potential mechanisms of host-microbial interactions in health and disease. We are particular interested in the role of the microbiome in inflammatory and auto-immune diseases and how hormone-microbiome interactions impact female health. To address these questions, we use integrated multi-omics analyses (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metabolomics) to identify disease-associated bacterial strains and their metabolites. These strains are subsequently isolated and cultured in the lab.
Candidate profile
We are looking for an outstanding highly-motivated PhD candidate with the ambition and commitment to achieve excellence in a highly productive environment. The activities surrounding this position will be part of the ERC Starting Grant project HEROINE: Hormone-microbiome interactions as a key-player in female health. The work will be focused on computational analysis of multi-omics data generated from clinical samples, including applying, conceiving and developing algorithms and analytical approaches for these datasets, interpreting this data within the context of the study and developing testable hypotheses that can be subsequently validated in the lab.
Tasks
- Analyzing large multi-omics datasets and interpret results
- Perform comparative microbial genomics analysis
- Develop, enhance, validate, and maintain current and new bioinformatic pipelines
- Lead and contribute to the generation of publications, grant applications, and protocols
- Network with our national and international collaborators and present our work at conferences and scientific meetings
Requirements
- M.Sc. or diploma in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, statistics or a relevant field
- Experience with scientific programming (such as R, Bash, Python, or C/C++), data analyses and data visualization, fluency in Unix
- Strong interest in human microbiome research
- Knowledge or experience with analyzing complex datasets (e.g., next-generation sequencing or metabolomics data), bioinformatic tools, statistical methods or high-performance computing is an advantage
- Excellent communication skills, and proficiency in English (presentation and writing skills)
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic to work in an interactive, international research environ-ment, ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent organization and time management skills required Our offer
We offer you a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research project using data from state-of-the-art multi-omics technologies in a fruitful, collaborative research environment. The successful candidate will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and will work closely with other computational and experimental researchers and our clinical collaborators. He/she will be part of the TUM Graduate School and the TUM School of Life Science. Specific research can include strain profiling, functional profiling, metagenomic assembly, metagenomic/metatranscriptomics/metabolomics analysis and integration of multi-omics datatypes.
The position is available starting the 1st of June 2022 (or as soon as possible thereafter) and will be for three years with an option to extent. Salary will be determined in accordance with the Ger-man collective wage agreement in public services (TV-L 13, 65%). Individuals with severe disabilities are given preference if they have the same aptitude and qualifications. The TUM seeks to increase the proportion of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, therefore applications from women are explicitly encouraged.
Contact
Technical University of Munich
ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health
Dr. Melanie Schirmer
Emmy Noether Group
Gregor-Mendel-Str. 2, 85354 Freising
Tel. +49 8161 71 2343
www.ziel.tum.de/melanie-schirmer
Application
Please send your full application as a PDF by March 31st, 2022 to melanie.schirmer@tum.de or by mail to the address above. The application should include a cover letter, detailed CV, a description of research experience and interests (1-2 pages) and contact details for 2-3 references. Please also indicate a preferred starting date and why you are interested in joining our group. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis until the deadline.
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