Bioinformatics Researcher – Computational Immunology (m/f/d)

About the Team

You would join a computational systems immunology laboratory in the Department of Medicine 3, focused on rheumatology and immunology. The group studies autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory arthritis and fibrotic disorders, with particular attention to interactions between immune and stromal cells. Their work combines multi-omics analysis to better understand disease biology, identify therapeutic targets, and examine drug responses in both clinical and preclinical contexts.

The lab works with advanced single-cell and spatial profiling platforms, including single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics (Visium and MERSCOPE), and imaging mass cytometry. These approaches are supported by established in vitro and in vivo model systems and strong links to clinical research.

Recent Research Themes

• How skin-derived myeloid precursors and joint-resident fibroblasts can drive psoriatic disease from the skin into the joints
• The role of CD200+ fibroblasts in building a pro-resolving mesenchymal network in arthritis
• How matrix stiffness influences profibrotic fibroblast differentiation and activation of the fibrotic niche in systemic sclerosis

Role Overview

The team is seeking a highly motivated researcher to contribute to ongoing and future computational projects. The position can be combined with a PhD for candidates who want to pursue doctoral studies, or taken on as a research role without enrolling in a PhD program. You will help build analysis workflows and support data-driven discovery across the research portfolio.

Please include a cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability, along with your CV and academic transcripts.

What You Will Do

• Work with complex multi-omics datasets, including single-cell and spatial data, using modern computational approaches.
• Design, build, and maintain reproducible pipelines for quality control, integration, statistical analysis, visualization, and reporting.
• Use statistical and machine learning techniques to produce reliable biological insights.
• Organize, curate, and maintain data and metadata to support reproducibility, traceability, and smooth downstream analysis.
• Contribute to scientific deliverables such as figures, methods sections, and written content for manuscripts and presentations.

What We Are Looking For

• A completed master’s degree by the start date, or an equivalent qualification, in a quantitative field such as bioinformatics or computational biology; alternatively, a background in biology or immunology with strong quantitative experience.
• Foundational knowledge of immunology.
• Strong coding ability in both R and Python.
• Hands-on experience analyzing high-dimensional data, preferably omics datasets.
• Good grasp of statistical concepts and methods.
• Strong personal drive, independent working style, and the ability to take responsibility for projects.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Helpful extra experience: practical work with single-cell RNA-seq.

What the Role Offers

• Employment under the TV-L pay scale, subject to eligibility and final classification.
• An initial one-year contract with a possible extension after positive evaluation.
• Working time between 65% and 100%, depending on experience level.
• The chance to contribute meaningfully to publication-focused projects, with realistic opportunities for co-authorship on strong manuscripts based on contribution and project needs.
• Close involvement in translational immunology at the interface of experimental systems and clinically relevant questions.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and datasets, including scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics (MERSCOPE), IMC, and CyTOF.
• Support for presenting at international conferences and engaging with the global scientific community.
• Connection to a strong collaborator network across immunology and rheumatology.
• Optional structured PhD training, for example through life@FAU, for those who want to pursue a doctorate alongside the role.

About Working at UKER

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen describes itself as one of Germany’s top hospitals and one of the largest employers in Middle Franconia. The organization highlights the contributions of its more than 10,000 highly qualified employees across many professions and emphasizes the importance of every role in delivering modern medicine, strong research, and top-level patient care.

If you want work with strong social value and to help shape the future of advanced medicine, this position is presented as a good fit.

Additional Notes

There is a reference to vaccination information for employees, but no further details are provided in the source.

The posting also mentions benefits associated with the employer and the advantages of a collective bargaining agreement.