PhD Student (m/w/d)

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 61,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Family-friendly university policies

Pension program

Structured mentoring

Job summary

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, is offering a PhD position in Translational Solid Tumor Research with a bioinformatics focus. The project applies single-cell and spatial multi-omics to primary uveal melanoma and its microenvironment, including comparisons across pre/post-immunotherapy and metastatic samples.

The role involves integrating multi-modal datasets, exploring spatial ligand-receptor interactions, and identifying prognostic biomarkers.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, or related natural science with emphasis on data analysis.
• Experience or strong interest in translational cancer research is desirable.
• English proficiency in written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and integrate multi-modal single-cell and spatial datasets to map tumor cell states and immune niches.
• Perform spatial ligand–receptor interaction and niche analyses to understand tumor-immune interactions.
• Identify spatial and molecular biomarkers for risk stratification and targeted treatment, in collaboration with clinicians and wet-lab scientists.

Skills

Independent research

English proficiency

Statistical testing basics

Education

Master’s degree in bioinformatics or related field

Tools

RNA-sequencing tools

Spatial transcriptomics platforms

High-performance computing (HPC)

Job description

PhD Student for Tanslational Solid Tumors Research

Specialty

Hematology and oncology

Campus Benjamin Franklin, Steglitz

Jobcode: 8489 | Work time: Part-time | Start date: 01.01.2027 | Employment period: Limited | Application deadline: 12.11.2026 | Deployment location Charité: Campus Benjamin Franklin, Steglitz | Salary group: E13

Working at Charité

We are looking for a highly qualified and motivated scientist for a project in translational cancer research and spatial multi-omics data analysis. Our interdisciplinary group at Charité, with close links to the MDC and DKTK, brings together physicians and scientists in biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics. We offer structured mentoring and access to state-of-the-art technologies. The project builds on an established spatial multi-omics platform for solid tumors, with a focus on primary uveal melanoma and its microenvironment. Within this project, this framework will be applied to clinically relevant contrasts, including pre- and post-immunotherapy as well as primary versus metastatic samples, to identify prognostic and treatment-relevant spatial biomarkers of tumor-immune interaction.

Overview of the position

• - Translational PhD project with a bioinformatic focus aiming at identifying spatial and molecular biomarkers that enable stratification of metastatic risk and survival, and targeted treatment approaches
• - Analysis and integration of multi-modal single-cell and spatial datasets, including single-cell nucleus sequencing, Xenium spatial transcriptomics data and protein imaging to map tumor cell states and immune niches in tissue
• - Spatial ligand-receptor interactions, proximity, and niche analyses to define how tumor genotypes and tumor states co-localize and interact with specific immune cell subtypes.
• - Differential composition, pathway, and spatially variable gene analyses across clinically relevant contrasts
• - Inform subsequent mechanistic validation to translate our findings into actionable biomarkers for risk stratification and targeted treatment, in close collaboration with clinicians and wet-lab scientists (including collaborations at MDC / BIMSB and DKTK sites)
• - Application of a wide range of methodologies: single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, RNA sequencing, multiplex imaging, high-dimensional data integration, and reproducible large-scale bioinformatic workflows

You are engaged in scientific work and, in accordance with §110 (4) Satz 3 BerlHG (Berliner Hochschulgesetz), you are granted a reasonable amount of time to pursue your own scientific qualifications.

What we are looking for

• - Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related natural science discipline with a strong emphasis on bioinformatics and/or data analysis
• - High motivation, ability to conduct independent scientific research, solution-oriented thinking and excellent communication skills
• - Basic knowledge of statistical testing, as well as molecular and cell biology
• - Excellent proficiency in English, both written and spoken
• - Desirable: hands-on experience with RNA-sequencing or spatial transcriptomics data, high-performance computing (HPC) environments and large-scale data management

Charité offers you

• - Highly professional work environment in motivated and interdisciplinary teams
• - A future-oriented, varied and demanding position with a high grade of personal responsibility and personal decision making opportunities
• - Intercultural team events, well structured onboarding phase with kind team members
• - Extensive offers for inhouse training and professional development as well as further qualifications
• - Special offers in the areas of shopping, travel and sports
• - Additional pension program with a company wide pension scheme
• - Certification as a family friendly university and company since 2007 - You may find further information here
• - Consideration of personal wishes regarding the weekly working schedule

Information regarding the position

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