PhD Position - C++ Software Engineering of a 3D Cell-Based Tissue Simulation Framework ETH Zürich in Switzerland

The Computational Biology (CoBi) group at ETH Zürich, led by Professor Dagmar Iber, is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the software engineering and further development of SimuCell3D, a high-performance C++ framework for simulating 3D tissues composed of thousands of deformable cells. The group is based in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel, providing a dynamic research environment at the intersection of biology, engineering, and medicine, and is surrounded by leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. ETH Zürich is renowned for its commitment to scientific excellence and innovation.

The successful candidate will extend SimuCell3D by implementing advanced numerical solvers for reaction-diffusion systems, enhance the biophysical capabilities of the framework, and apply it to morphogenetic questions using real imaging data. Responsibilities include running large-scale simulations on ETH’s HPC infrastructure, calibrating models, performing parameter screens, and validating predictions against experimental data.

Applicants should have strong computational skills in C++ and software engineering, with a background in computational science, applied mathematics, or computational biology. Familiarity with numerical methods for PDEs (such as finite difference or finite element methods) and experience with high-performance computing are advantageous. The position is open to candidates with a master’s degree in a relevant field, and master’s students interested in starting with a thesis project on this topic are also encouraged to apply. The PhD position comes with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including access to ETH’s HPC clusters, flexible home office arrangements, public transport season tickets, car sharing, sports facilities, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.

ETH Zürich values diversity, sustainability, and an inclusive culture, promoting equality of opportunity and a climate-neutral future. Applications must be submitted online through the ETH Zurich application portal and should include a letter of motivation, CV, diplomas and transcripts, and contact details of two referees.

For further information about the group, visit their website. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Prof. Dagmar Iber at [email protected] (no applications via email).