This fully funded PhD position is offered at the Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, within the bioinformatics service unit of the research group “Machine Learning for Biomedical Data” led by Professor Dominik Heider. The position is embedded in the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre 1748, Principles of Reproduction, which brings together scientists from the University, University Hospital, Max Planck Institute Münster, and RWTH Aachen. The central research objective is to elucidate the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms governing testis formation and function, sperm production and function, fertilisation, and early embryonic development in both health and disease.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant interdisciplinary team and contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, biophysics, genetics, and informatics. The role involves developing, implementing, and maintaining bioinformatics pipelines for large-scale omics data, including RNASeq and single-cell sequencing (scSeq). You will also contribute to the development of new algorithms and methods for efficient analysis of omics datasets, participate in workflow automation and management using systems such as Snakemake, and engage in the Integrated Research Training Group ‘Reproduction.MS PhD-Training Centre in Translational Science’.

The position offers a competitive salary according to the TV-L E13 tariff agreement, extra annual payment, company pension plan (VBL), 30 days of vacation per year plus two additional days off, and access to state-of-the-art computing infrastructure. The research environment is highly interdisciplinary and international, with a strong track record of collaboration. The structured PhD training programme provides a wide range of professional development opportunities, and the university offers additional benefits such as sports programs, job ticket, company events, cafeteria, and emergency childcare.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Medical Informatics, Computational Biology, or a related discipline. Required skills include knowledge of algorithm development and bioinformatics pipelines, initial experience in biological data analysis (e.g., omics technologies), and programming skills in Python, R, or C/C++. Familiarity with workflow management systems such as Snakemake is beneficial. Candidates should be highly motivated for scientific work, willing to contribute to an interdisciplinary team, and possess excellent English communication skills; German language skills are advantageous but not required.

To apply, submit your application via the University of Münster career portal by February 11, 2026. Your application should include a letter of motivation (max 2 pages), a summary of your Master’s thesis (max 1 page), transcript and scanned copies of your degree certificates, and two letters of recommendation or contact details of two references. For further inquiries, contact Professor Dominik Heider at [email protected].