PhD position "Computational Modeling of Radiation Oncology Data"

University of Duisburg-Essen
Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics
Germany NRW Essen
www.uni-due.de/zmb/bioinformatics-computational-biophysics/index.php

Description

The advertised position is located at the Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics (principal investigator Prof. Daniel Hoffmann). The PhD project is part of the DFG funded Research Training Group GRK 2762 "Heterogeneity, plasticity & dynamics in cancer cell, tumor and normal tissue responses to cancer radiotherapy" (www.uni-due.de/med/forschung/grk2762/index.shtml), subdivision Mathematical and Computational Modelling.

Deadline for applications: August 31, 2022.

The systems that we are concerned with in this PhD project are cancers treated with radiation therapy in combination with other therapies. Theses systems are complex and heterogeneous, which can make it difficult to understand why treatments fail and how their efficacy can be optimized.

The question asked in this PhD project is: Can we develop computational methods that allow us to gain reliable knowledge about these systems despite their heterogeneity and complexity? We will develop an answer to this question in the form of a mathematical and computational toolbox that enables researchers to integrate complex data from our systems of interest in probabilistic models. Such probabilistic models can explicitly account for uncertainty and heterogeneity. The models will be used to study our systems quantitatively by Bayesian analyses. Around this central modelling component, further tools can be added for data processing and complementary analyses such as ordination or clustering, resulting in data analysis pipelines for reproducible research in radiation oncology.

We offer

PhD position, paygrade E 13 TV-L, 65%, starting October 2022
Opportunities to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research projects
A stimulating interdisciplinary and internationally-oriented academic environment
Innovative cross-disciplinary scientific training for PhD and MD students at the interface between radiation biology and oncology, precision medicine, and computational biology
Training in transferable academic and soft skills
Funding for active participation in workshops and conferences and international visits to collaboration partners
Regular supervision and mentoring
Excellent career opportunities


Qualifications

Talented and enthusiastic candidates with strong interest in the research topic of GRK 2762
Excellent Diploma/Master degree in Computational Biology, Biostatistics, or related field
Strong motivation and commitment to active cross-disciplinary collaboration
Ability to solve complex problems and to work independently, programming skills
Fluency in spoken and written English (knowledge of German is not a requirement)


Start date

October 01, 2022

How to Apply

Interested candidates should fill the application form available at www.uni-due.de/~hy0270/application_form_grk_2762.docx and send it together with a curriculum vitae, a copy of all university degrees and other certificates (e.g. on English language skills), and contact data of two referees (university professors) as a single pdf-file by e-mail (subject line “tender number 1231, application GRK 2762/Project M1”) to the address given at the end of the application form.