Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in Population 'omics and Pharmacoepidemiology Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)

Company description

The Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) is dedicated to biomedical translation. Its mission is to translate research findings into personalized prevention, diagnostics, and therapies to benefit patients and provide the scientific community with effective tools. With approximately 750 employees, the BIH specializes in translational method development, precision medicine, regenerative therapies, and biomedical data science. Closely integrated with Charité, the BIH promotes excellent research and facilitates the accelerated transfer of new discoveries into clinical practice through its supporting platforms and programs. Through these efforts, the BIH builds strong partnerships and fosters innovation-driven medicine in both national and international contexts.

For the Health Data Modelling group (https://www.bihealth.org/en/research/research-group/health-data-modelling), we are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in full-time or part-time (min. 30h/week) limited until 28.02.2029, starting as soon as possible. This position is funded by the ERC Starting Grant “GenDrug”, which aims to integrate large-scale genomic and real-world clinical data to discover new drug targets.

We are seeking a dedicated and rigorous researcher with a demonstrable track record in population-level multi-omics analysis, statistical genomics, and pharmacoepidemiology. The successful candidate will lead the development and publication of computational strategies that integrate multiple (blood) omics layers to guide personalized treatment decisions, i.e., understanding drug efficacy and adverse effects, and biomarker-informed drug repurposing. We are looking for applicants with a strong translational focus and clinically/biologically oriented mind set, tailoring computational approaches to urgent clinical needs. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals with a keen interest in interdisciplinary work with a strong methodological background.

What you can expect

• Analyze (blood-based) ‘omics data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) from large cohorts such as UK Biobank as well as tightly defined drug intervention studies to systematically study systemic effects of novel and approved treatments.
• Investigate the effects of medications on blood biomarkers and clinical outcomes, incorporating pharmacogenetic analyses.
• Develop and apply statistical and computational methods (including causal inference and machine learning) to link multi-omic variation with drug response and disease phenotypes.
• Build and maintain high-throughput analysis pipelines and computational infrastructure using R (and Python), and work in HPC/cloud environments.
• Create interactive data visualization tools (e.g. R Shiny apps) to facilitate exploration of results.
• Prepare scientific publications and figures, and present findings at conferences and seminars.
• Integrate individual level data analysis with publicly available results and databases through, among others, genome-wide meta-analysis or knowledge graph integration.
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers and students in data analysis projects.

What you bring along

• PhD in genomics, statistical genomics, genetic epidemiology or a closely related discipline
• Stage-appropriate track-record of high-impact research and publications in the field of genomics, multiomics, and/or pharmacoepidemiology
• Demonstrable experience in several of the following areas:
  • 1) Generation and/or analysis of high-throughput genomic, proteomics, or metabolomic data,
  • 2) Genome-scale association analyses using large-scale whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing data,
  • 3) High level of proficiency in computational genomics e.g, variant annotation,
  • 4) Successful implementation and benchmarking of machine learning techniques in population-scale omics settings with high class imbalance
• Aptitude for biological inference and clinical translation
• Demonstrable extensive experience with principal programming languages in HPC or cloud environments level of proficiency in the English language

What we offer you

• A varied job in a forward-looking research institute
• Pay group E13 TVöD VKA-K. The classification is based on qualifications, the respective experience level is calculated on the basis of professional experience. The annual salary (gross) is stated for a full-time position without special or additional payments. The collective agreement can be found here.
• Additional benefits customary in the public sector (including annual special payment, company pension scheme (VBL), capital-forming benefits)
• Flexible working hours and the option of working remote 
• 30 vacation days per year (with a five-day week)
• Various support offers to balance work and family life (childcare, cooperation with voiio)
• Very good training and further education opportunities
• Mobile citizens' office on site
• Corporate benefits (travel, leisure, shopping, etc.), Charité Gympass, JobRad
• Very easily accessible and attractive workplace at the Rahel Hirsch Center for Translational Medicine, Luisenstr. 65, 10117 Berlin

We live diversity!

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion and ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. Applications from women are expressly encouraged. Severely disabled and equivalent applicants will be given special consideration if they have the same qualifications and suitability.

We believe that diverse teams representing a wide range of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds enrich our research and work.

Please submit your application via our online application form with a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae (without photo, without age statement and without information about your marital status) and other relevant attachments (such as employer references, degree certificates, etc.).

Note: If you have a foreign degree, please submit proof of recognition of your degree in Germany with your application. The proof can be obtained via the anabin database. Please note that it may be necessary to obtain a certificate assessment from the ZAB. You can find more information here.

Proof of measles immunity / measles vaccination is a prerequisite for employment for those born after 1970.

You can find more information about BIH here.

Everyone is welcome at the Charité, regardless of age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, ethnic or social background. We are committed to equal opportunities and inclusion.

For data protection reasons, we only accept applications via our application portal. The contact details provided below are intended solely for inquiries.

Apply now

Contact person

For technical or role-related questions regarding the job posting, please contact Prof. Dr. Maik Pietzner (Email: maik.pietzner@bih-charite.de).

For questions regarding the application process, please contact jobs@bih-charite.de.