Scientist / PostDoc position (m/f/x) in data science and FAIR standards

Scientist / PostDoc position (m/f/x) in data science and FAIR standards

Place of work

Leipzig, mobile work partially possible

Working time

54-76% (21-29.6h/week) depending on available project funds per year

Contract limitations

Limited contract from 01.08.2025 to 15.06.2027

Salary

Remuneration according to the TVöD public-sector up to pay grade 13, including attractive social security benefits

Contact

Your contact for any questions about the job:
Dr. Riccardo Massei
riccardo.massei@ufz.de

Your application

Please submit your application via our online portal with your cover letter, CV (please omit your photo, age, or marital status), and relevant attachments.

Diversity and Inclusion

The UFZ is committed to diversity and actively supports equal opportunities for all employees regardless of origin, religion, ideology, disability, age, or sexual identity.
We welcome applications from open-minded individuals who enjoy working in diverse teams.

The UFZ

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), with 1,100 employees, is an international leader in environmental sciences. As part of the Helmholtz association, Germany's largest scientific organization, our mission is to balance social development with the long-term protection of natural resources.

The job

Are you passionate about developing standardized metadata schemas and harmonized reporting procedures for video tracking assays (VTAs)? Do you want to improve research reproducibility and consistency in life sciences? If so, apply for a Scientist/PostDoc position in our dynamic team!

This position, within the BeStMeta project, aims to refine metadata standards, increase the FAIRness of protocols and training data, and develop web-based pipelines for VTAs metadata enrichment. You will work with a multidisciplinary team from the Helmholtz 'Earth and Environment' and 'Health' programs to develop unified standards. Main tasks include:

1. Refining metadata standards and schemas based on existing efforts
2. Ensuring interoperability and reusability of training data, protocols, and models
3. Developing automated, user-friendly metadata enrichment pipelines
4. Collaborating on novel metadata concepts and schemas
5. Publishing findings in high-impact journals and presenting at international conferences

We offer

• The opportunity to tackle challenging research questions bridging basic and applied science
• Work in interdisciplinary, international teams with diverse perspectives
• Integration into national and international research networks addressing global challenges
• Excellent research infrastructure and data management support
• Flexible hours and family-friendly options through our family office
• Support for international colleagues from the 'International Office'
• Additional benefits including annual payments, capital-forming benefits, and subsidized Germany Job Ticket
• A vibrant regional setting with high quality of life and cultural diversity

Your profile

• Motivated candidate with a Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or related fields
• Strong programming skills (Python mandatory; R is a plus)
• Experience with version control systems (Git)
• Experience with Galaxy EU is advantageous
• Interest or experience in metadata standards, data analysis, and big data
• Background in behavioral analysis, toxicology, or life sciences is a plus but not required
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal