PhD Position - Quantitative Modelling of Tissue Growth

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH P-VA Personalabrechnung; Jülich; Vor Ort; EUR 42.000 - 52.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

30 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

International Advisory Service

Health & well-being program

Training and networking opportunities

Zusammenfassung

Forschungszentrum Jülich is offering a PhD position focused on quantitative modelling of tissue growth. You will extend a membrane-potential–driven framework to 3D, study mutations, and compare with experimental observations.

Work involves developing a performant simulation tool, analyzing data, and collaborating with Harvard Medical School. English proficiency is required; German is a bonus.

Qualifikationen

• Interdisciplinary project combining physics and biology with simulation and data science.
• Masters degree or diploma in physics, biology, biochemistry, informatics or related field.
• Excellent written and spoken English (B2 or higher) with strong vocabulary.
• German language knowledge is not mandatory but a bonus.

Aufgaben

• Develop an advanced high-performance simulation framework for tissue growth.
• Explore competition between different cell types in 3D tissue growth.
• Develop simplified analytic models for observed phenomena.
• Analyse data from collaborators and experiments.
• Potentially visit collaborators at Harvard Medical School.

Kenntnisse

Interdisciplinary work

Physics & biology

Simulation

Data science

Python

C++

OpenMP

Ausbildung

Master's degree or diploma in physics, biology, biochemistry, informatics

Tools

OpenMP

Python

C++

Jobbeschreibung

PhD Position - Quantitative Modelling of Tissue Growth

Are you eager to pursue a doctoral project that bridges scientific disciplines? Are you excited by complex challenges that demand interdisciplinary solutions? Are you fascinated by mechanics of growing tissues?

In a collaboration with Harvard Medical School, we recently discovered how mechanical feedback on growth of cells is regulated by the membrane potential (https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01253-X01253-X)). This work has only just begun.

At the Institute for Advanced Simulation - Theoretical Physics of Living Matter (IAS-2), we want to extend this model to the third dimension and explore how mutations could effect growth, and quantitatively describe experimental observations as well as study related effects like cell competition or deformations.

Your Job

You will utilize a novel, more performant, framework for tissue growth regulated by membrane potential to study biophysical questions like how cells maintain a given hight, how tissue sheets grow in three dimensions, and how competition between different celltypes play out.

Your tasks will include:

• Further development of an advanced simulation framework suitable for high performance computing
• Explore how competition between different celltypes develops
• Develop simplified analytic models for observed phenomena
• Analyse data from experiments from collaborators
• Potentially visit collaborators at Harvard Medical

Your Profile

Strong motivation for an interdisciplinary project that combines physics and biology together with simulation and data science

A master`s degree or diploma in physics, biology, biochemistry, informatics or other relevant discipline

Very good command of written and spoken English with extensive vocabulary is required (at least B2 level according to the CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level

Knowledge of the German language is not mandatory but a bonus

High degree of independence and commitment

Good knowledge of python and C++

Experience in Simulation sciences are advantageous but not mandatory

Experience in modelling of tissue growth is advantageous

Participation and good grades in courses in Theoretical Biophysics, computational methods, python, object oriented programming, c++, Open MP, fluid dynamics, cell biology, will be taken into account

Our Benefits for You

• Team & Environment: You will work in a motivated team with an international and interdisciplinary focus – at one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Research & Infrastructure: You will have access to excellent scientific and technical facilities for your work
• Networking & Exchange: You will participate in (international) conferences and project meetings and actively build your scientific network
• Supervision & Support: We will accompany your doctoral studies with continuous, expert guidance from your academic supervisor
• Work-life balance: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
• Annual Leave: You get 30 days of annual leave
• Knowledge & Development: Your professional development is important to us – we support you specifically and individually e.g., through training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS)
• Health & well-being: Your health is important to us. You can look forward to a comprehensive company health management programme with a wide range of options, including a beach volleyball court, running groups, yoga classes and much more. In addition, our company medical service and an experienced social counselling team are available to assist you on site
• Fair remuneration: Depending on your qualifications and assigned responsibilities, you will be classified according to pay group 13 (75%) of the TVöD-Bund.In addition to the basic salary, there is an additional year-end bonus under the collective pay agreement amounting to 75% of a monthly salary, as well as capital-forming benefits. All information about the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website (pay scale table on page 66 ff. of the PDF download)
• Fixed-term: The position is limited to 3 years
• Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options for women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey. International applicants can find more information here: https://go.fzj.de/job-journey-internationals

Place of Employment: Jülich

Start Date:To the next possible date

Salary: Pay group 13 (75%) TVöD-Bund

Application Deadline: The position will be advertised until it is successfully filled.

Index number: 2026D-0860