AI Scientist (f/m/x) – Virtual Tissue Staining & Cancer Diagnostics

Euraxess; München; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Flexi days

Public holidays

Job summary

Helmholtz Zentrum München is seeking an AI Scientist (f/m/x) to join our efforts in developing AI-driven virtual staining pipelines for cancer tissue analysis. The role focuses on designing and training generative models to create synthetic H&E images and biomarker maps, with strong emphasis on imaging workflows and biomedical data integration.

The candidate will work with biologists, medical researchers, and imaging experts in a highly collaborative, international environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in machine learning for imaging, ideally in biomedical or histopathological contexts.
• Strong programming skills and deep learning frameworks.
• Familiarity with generative models (e.g., diffusion, GANs, autoencoders) or virtual staining concepts.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills in an international environment.
• Understanding of microscopy, image analysis, and biological data (H&E, immunostaining, omics integration).
• Experience with 3D networks, transformer architectures, or self-supervised learning.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI-driven virtual staining pipelines for the analysis of cancer tissue samples.
• Design, train, and optimize generative AI models for synthetic H&E images or biomarker maps.
• Develop and implement image processing, data preparation, and model evaluation workflows for complex biomedical imaging datasets.
• Benchmark and validate model performance, robustness, and biological relevance in collaboration with biologists and imaging experts.
• Contribute to integration of AI-based image analysis with microscopy, histopathology, and molecular data.
• Present and publish research findings and contribute to further development of AI-driven technologies for biomedical research and cancer diagnostics.

Skills

Machine learning

Imaging analysis

Deep learning

3D networks

Transformers

Self-supervised learning

Teamwork

Biological data understanding

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Python

PyTorch / TensorFlow

Image processing pipelines

Job description

Organisation/Company Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt Research Field Medical sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 31 Oct 2026 - 15:14 (UTC) Country Germany Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Other Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

102994

Partial Home Office possible

At Helmholtz Munich, we develop groundbreaking solutions for a healthier society in a rapidly changing world. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. Through strong partnerships, we accelerate the transfer of new ideas from the lab to real-life applications, improving lives.

At the

our major goal is to accelerate biomedical research by developing and combining enabling technologies. Our major research fields are AI-based organ mapping, tissue engineering and precision medicine in cancer treatments. Sophisticated technologies such as 3D tissue imaging or molecular profiling are combined with AI tools to decode the complexity of tissues and shed light into cancer biology. Our interdisciplinary team — comprising biologists, engineers, computer scientists, and medical researchers — develops next-generation computational models to interpret complex biomedical data across multiple scales. Our innovations in tissue clearing, 3D microscopy, and AI-driven pathology have been featured in leading journals (Nature Methods, Nature Neuroscience, Cell, Nature Biotechnology) and major media (The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Süddeutsche Zeitung).

. We are seeking a highly motivated AI Scientist (f/m/x) (best: Computational Pathologist / Machine Learning Scientist for Digital Pathology) to join our efforts in developing AI-driven virtual staining pipelines for cancer tissue analysis.

• Develop AI-driven virtual staining pipelines for the analysis of cancer tissue samples
• Design, train, and optimize generative AI models that transform unlabeled or 3D tissue images into realistic virtual stains, such as synthetic H&E images or biomarker maps
• Develop and implement image processing, data preparation, and model evaluation workflows for complex biomedical imaging datasets
• Benchmark and validate model performance, robustness, and biological relevance in close collaboration with biologists, medical researchers, and imaging experts
• Contribute to the integration of AI-based image analysis with microscopy, histopathology, and molecular data to generate new insights into cancer biology
• Present and publish research findings and contribute to the further development of AI-driven technologies for biomedical research and cancer diagnostics

Your profile

• Master's degree in a relevant field
• Experience in machine learning for imaging, ideally in biomedical or histopathological contexts
• Strong programming skills and deep learning frameworks
• Familiarity with generative models (e.g., diffusion, GANs, autoencoders) or virtual staining concepts
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills in an international environment
• Understanding of microscopy, image analysis, and biological data (H&E, immunostaining, omics integration)
• Experience with 3D networks, transformer architectures, or self-supervised learning

If you fulfill all the requirements, you may be eligible for a salary grade of up to E 13. Social benefits are based on the Collective Wage Agreement for Public-Sector Employees (TVöD). This position is for a fixed term of 1 year.

Managing Director Mike Frieser: „We believe that diversity is the key to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions. Our flexible working models and remote options create a supportive environment for balancing work and family life. For us, contributing to a healthier society in such an inspiring workplace is truly meaningful.“

Get to know us

• Career Development: Postdoc program, scientific training & career center with tailored offers
• Scientific Resources: State-of-the‑art infrastruture and Core Facilities
• Recreation: 30 days annual leave, flexi days, plus public holidays
• International Staff Service: Support with the relocation and integration process in Germany

Our commitment

We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and welcome applications from talented people regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical abilities, religion or age. Qualified applicants with physical disabilities will be given preference.

Learn more about diversity at Helmholtz Munich

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.