Research Associate / Bioinformatician

Universität Basel; Basel; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public transport access

Subsidized meals

Childcare support

Unisport access

Job summary

The Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) invites applications for a Research Associate / Bioinformatician to join the Retinal and Macular Degeneration Clinical Research Group in Basel. You will lead quantitative analysis of retinal imaging data and develop models for disease progression using high-dimensional imaging features.

Collaborating with clinicians, you will translate computational findings into trial design and patient selection criteria, contribute to

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., computational biology, bioinformatics).
• Strong Python programming and reproducible data-analysis workflows.
• Experience with complex high-dimensional biomedical/imaging datasets and QC.
• Ability to explain methods clearly to computational and clinical colleagues.
• Evidence of independent quantitative research (thesis/publication/software).

Responsibilities

• Analyze large-scale retinal imaging datasets using deep-learning imaging features.
• Develop and validate statistical and machine-learning models of disease progression.
• Build patient stratification and phenotyping pipelines.
• Collaborate with clinicians to translate findings into trial design and endpoints.
• Contribute to publications and present findings at international conferences.

Skills

Python programming

Data analysis

High-dimensional data

Explain results

Independent research

Education

MSc/PhD in computational biology

Job description

The Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) is seeking a Research Associate / Bioinformatician to join the Retinal and Macular Degeneration Clinical Research Group.

IOB combines basic and clinical research to advance the understanding of vision and its diseases and to develop new therapies for vision loss. We offer an environment where your expertise will be valued, your abilities challenged, and your scientific knowledge expanded. The Retinal and Macular Degeneration Clinical Research Group conducts translational and clinical research to improve how retinal diseases are characterized, monitored, and treated. The group studies retinal structure and function across diseases and disease stages, follows how these measures change over time, and evaluates responses to therapy. Its work spans multimodal imaging, functional testing, computational analysis, biomarker and endpoint development, patient stratification, natural-history studies, and interventional clinical trials. Its work connects early-stage therapeutic development with large-scale clinical collaboration across more than 30 international partner sites in Europe, North America, and Asia, helping to translate laboratory discoveries into clinical applications.

We are looking for a Research Associate / Bioinformatician to lead the quantitative analysis of retinal imaging datasets. You will work with high-dimensional representations learned from retinal images, develop longitudinal models of disease progression, and build data-driven approaches for patient stratification and clinically relevant outcome prediction. The position sits at the intersection of computational biology, medical image analysis, and translational ophthalmology.

Your position

• Analyze large-scale retinal imaging datasets (e.g. OCT, fundus photography) using deep-learning-derived imaging features
• Develop and validate statistical and machine learning models of disease progression
• Build patient stratification and phenotyping pipelines
• Collaborate with clinicians to translate computational findings into clinical trial design, patient selection criteria, and endpoint development
• Contribute to the group's publication output and present findings at international conferences

Your profile

Minimum qualifications:

• MSc or PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, biomedical engineering, physics, statistics, or a related quantitative field
• Strong Python programming skills and experience developing reproducible data-analysis workflows
• Experience working with complex, high-dimensional biomedical or imaging datasets, including data quality control and validation
• Ability to explain technical methods and results clearly to both computational and clinical collaborators
• Evidence of independent quantitative research, such as a thesis, publication, preprint, software project, or substantial analytical contribution

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with medical image analysis, retinal imaging, or ophthalmic data
• Experience with survival analysis frameworks, mixed-effects modeling, or Bayesian approaches to disease progression
• Experience with representation learning and generative or temporal modelling in learned representation spaces, for example using diffusion models, latent-variable models, or neural state-space models
• Experience with statistical modelling or machine learning applied to longitudinal, repeated-measures, or time-to-event data
• Experience with high-dimensional data analysis (e.g. embeddings, single-cell, or omics data), including dimensionality reduction, clustering, and phenotyping

We offer you

• Scientific Excellence & Impact – Join a highly motivated research institute at the forefront of vision research, supported by state-of-the-art facilities in an international, cutting-edge research environment in Basel
• An Environment Built for Performance – We create conditions that enable you to do your best work: A commitment to supporting long-term excellence and family-friendly policies
• Practical Support & Accessibility– Convenient Basel location with excellent public transport, subsidized meals, childcare support, and access to university sports facilities (Unisport)
• A Culture of Mutual Trust – We seek colleagues who bring motivation, innovation, and dedication; in return, we provide the resources, flexibility, and environment where exceptional work thrives