Research scientist / PhD position (m/f/d) in computational and mathematical oncology

Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Research project: Bioinformatics Core of the Research Unit CATCH ALL (Heads: Dr. Alina Hartmann, PD Dr. Michael Forster, Prof. Dr. Philipp Altrock)

Your project will integrate measurable residual disease (MRD) data from adult and pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), along with molecular (e.g., transcriptomic) and epidemiologic (e.g., sex differences) characterization. The goal is to better understand patient-specific disease evolution and treatment response, bridging the value of broadly available kinetic information, such as MRD, with specialized characterizations, such as single-cell transcriptomics. You will learn to develop and apply data-driven models that link longitudinal kinetics to molecular subtypes and clinical outcomes, and to work toward digital-twin representations of leukemia. As part of your training, you will learn and apply bioinformatics workflows and computational analyses that support the rich and growing data infrastructure of the DFG-funded Clinical Research Unit CATCH ALL (https://www.catchall-kfo5010.com/) in Kiel.

We are looking for a committed and curious team player to start as soon as possible in our interdisciplinary research group focused on computational cancer biology and mathematical oncology. The position is available within the Clinical Research Unit CATCH ALL. Close collaboration with clinical and basic oncology researchers, bioinformatics experts, and clinicians enables an interdisciplinary research environment driven by team science. We use and further develop methods from evolutionary dynamics, stochastic processes, neural network modeling, machine learning, and bioinformatics to advance our understanding of ALL evolution and improve personalized treatment selection and patient care.

Start in our team

We are looking for professional and competent support to start as soon as possible, limited for 4 years.

What we offer:

• The salary will be based on the German E13 TV-L scale, if the terms and conditions under the collective bargaining law are fulfilled
• Part-time employment currently 25 hours/week
• Comprehensive training in bioinformatics pipelines, computational biology, biostatistics, and mathematical modeling methods within a supportive, interdisciplinary team
• Access to extensive, clinically annotated multi-omics datasets and state-of-the-art computational infrastructure, including high-performance computing clusters
• You can find more attractive UKSH benefits here: Benefits (uksh.de)

Your tasks:

• You will analyze and model longitudinal MRD data from adult and pediatric ALL patients in combination with RNA sequencing and other molecular characterizations
• You will develop computational approaches to understand subtype-specific disease evolution and treatment response patterns
• You will learn and contribute to bioinformatics workflows supporting the CATCH ALL data infrastructure, including pipelines for multi-omics data integration and biostatistics
• You work in an interactive context with other projects of the CATCH ALL research unit, contributing to the molecular characterization of disease heterogeneity and mechanisms driving relapse

Your profile:

• We are looking for an enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in biology, (bio)informatics, physics, mathematics, or life sciences. Prior experience in bioinformatics, computational modeling, or data analysis is advantageous but not required. A strong willingness to learn is essential.
• Basic knowledge in statistics, machine learning, or applied probability theory is beneficial, as is a strong interest in independently acquiring an in-depth understanding of the project background and familiarizing yourself with novel methods.
• Programming skills are required (Python, R, or similar); experience with high-dimensional or multimodal datasets is a plus.
• A solid command of English is essential; the research group’s working language is English.
• If you are a focused, hardworking individual ready to collaborate within the group and with its project partners, we look forward to your application!

We look forward to receiving your application, including a cover letter, CV, and at least two references. Please submit your application until 29.01.2026 include the reference number 27940.

Additional information: Prof. Dr. Philipp Altrock, PhilippMartin.Altrock@uksh.de, paltrock.github.io, and Dr. Alina Hartmann Alina.Hartmann@uksh.de

Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 24105

Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE, 24105