Postdoc (m/f/x) - Neuroscience and Bioinformatics

Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung - Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI) e.V.

The Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena is a federal and state government-funded research institute and member of the Leibniz Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft). FLI conducts internationally recognized, high-impact research on the biology of aging at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Scientists from around 40 countries investigate the mechanisms of aging to uncover its root causes and pave the way for strategies that promote healthy aging. (www.leibniz-fli.de)

The de Bakker group, led by Dr. Dennis E.M. de Bakker, is funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS Nexus program) for five years starting January 1, 2026. We are seeking a motivated Postdoc (m/f/x) to join the team: The de Bakker group studies the molecular causes of brain aging using the short-lived turquoise killifish, applying methods from molecular biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, histology, microscopy, genetic engineering, and behavioral testing. The project focuses on bioinformatics to identify genetic loci, transcripts, and proteins that underlie differences in brain aging between two killifish species, with the long-term goal of developing strategies to delay brain aging in humans. The successful candidate will contribute to research on i) the genomic and molecular basis of brain aging, ii) the evolutionary processes underlying differences in brain aging rates, and iii) the identification of potential targets to delay vertebrate brain aging.


Your tasks:

• Performing bioinformatic analyses in R (including packages such as R/qtl) using existing genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets
• Applying AI-based tools, such as AlphaFold, to generate and test new biological hypotheses on the evolutionary and molecular mechanisms of brain aging
• Assisting in the creation and analysis of new next-generation sequencing and proteomic datasets to address emerging biological questions throughout the project
• Contributing to manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, and grant applications
• Collaborating within an interdisciplinary research team and mentoring junior researchers

Your qualifications:

• PhD in biology, computer science, or a related discipline
• Proven expertise in bioinformatics (R), neuroscience, and/or genomics
• Willingness to engage in both computational work and scientific writing (grant proposals and manuscripts)
• Strong motivation to advance our understanding of the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying brain aging
• Genuine interest in pursuing an independent academic career
• FELASA-equivalent certification and experience in the planning, execution, and documentation of animal experiments is a plus, but not a prerequisite
• Excellent command of spoken and written English

We Offer:

• You will become part of a world-leading research institute dedicated to the biology of aging and have the opportunity to join a very well-equipped Lab with an international team
• Access to multiple state-of-the-art facilities including Life Science Computing, Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Next Generation Sequencing; our work is embedded in the Beutenberg Campus, an interdisciplinary base for innovative research
• A position integrated in the FLI Postdoc Circle, a network connecting FLI postdocs and supporting career development and postdoctoral training
• The contract conditions and the salary will be according to the collective labor agreement for public service employees of the federal states of Germany (E 13 TV-L) with a contract duration of two years
• Flexible working time, a family friendly working environment that provides a healthy work-life balance, company health management, including support for child care solutions, and dual career options

Application:
Please apply online through the FLI application system by November 9, 2025.

FLI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and promotes diversity. It aims to increase the proportion of underrepresented groups in case of equal suitability. All qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law will receive consideration for employment.