24.07.2025

This project will pioneer conceptual and technical synergies between using multi-model frameworks for technical system design—e.g., automotive architectures—and biological systems that use DNA as both a building material and a logical information code , inspired by transcriptional organization in the cell nucleus. The ultimate goal is to explore in an example case how principles from consistent multi-view modelling of technical systems can inspire new approaches of modelling biological information processing, and vice versa.

Your Role and Required Skills

You will play a key role in this highly exploratory and interdisciplinary project, combining experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches to design artificial, DNA-based information processing systems inspired by transcriptional organization in the biological cell nucleus.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Experimental wet lab work: This is a firm requirement for the position, as you will collaborate with cell and molecular biologists to design and implement DNA-based systems. Candidates with purely theoretical or computational backgrounds are nevertheless encouraged to apply, as necessary laboratory skills can be learned on the job through close collaboration with team members.
• Developing image analysis pipelines, custom data analysis workflows, and applying machine learning techniques to experimental data.
• Conducting sequence bioinformatics analyses to support DNA-based system design.
• Exploring computational modeling, simulation, or theoretical frameworks on model-consistency of CRC 1608 to integrate biological principles with technical system design paradigms.
• The working language is English.

In addition to computational or theoretical expertise, specializations in any relevant area or technique of molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or biotechnology can equally serve as foundations for defining the project’s focus. Candidates with expertise in areas such as gene editing, synthetic biology, protein engineering, or advanced microscopy are welcome to bring their skills into this interdisciplinary effort.

Candidates with expertise in software development, computer science, simulation models, dynamical systems, applied mathematics, or high-performance computing can also define additional emphases for the project based on their background and interests.

It is possible to pursue a doctoral degree while working.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.