PhD Student / Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Biology – Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany

Exciting Research Opportunity in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics & Multi-Omics

Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and the Institute of Human Genetics – AG Laugsch are inviting applications for a PhD Student or Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Computational Biology.

The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research project investigating how NR2F1 dosage regulates neurodevelopment and cortical circuit formation, with a strong focus on gene regulation, epigenomics, single-cell analysis, and multi-omics data integration.

📍 Job Details

• Position: PhD Student / Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Biology

• Research Group: AG Laugsch, Institute of Human Genetics

• Institution: Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD)

• Location: Heidelberg, Germany

• Contract: 3-year fixed-term position

• Salary: TV-L E13 salary scale

• Application Deadline: August 31, 2026

• Job ID: V000015909

• Working Environment: Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Genomics & Multi-Omics

🧬 Research Project

The project focuses on understanding the role of NR2F1, an important transcription factor involved in embryonic neuronal development. Alterations in NR2F1 dosage are associated with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS).

The research will investigate how changes in NR2F1 dosage affect gene regulation, neuronal development, and cortical circuit formation.

Researchers will work with CRISPR/Cas9-engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and study both 2D cellular models and 3D forebrain dorsal organoids.

🔬 Key Research Technologies

The project combines multiple genomic and epigenomic approaches, including:

• RNA-seq

• ATAC-seq

• ChIP-seq

• Hi-C

• scRNA-seq

• scATAC-seq

• Single-cell Multiome

• Single-cell multi-omics

• Gene regulatory network inference

• Public omics data integration

The goal is to generate a comprehensive understanding of dosage-sensitive gene regulatory networks during human neurodevelopment.

💻 Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will:

• Develop and implement computational pipelines for single-cell multi-omics analysis.

• Analyze and integrate large-scale genomic and epigenomic datasets.

• Reconstruct gene regulatory networks in 3D forebrain organoid models.

• Integrate newly generated experimental data with relevant public omics datasets.

• Develop an interactive, open-access web platform for visualization and exploration of research datasets.

• Perform computational analyses using high-performance computing (HPC) environments.

• Collaborate with researchers across computational biology, genomics, and neuroscience.

• Contribute to interdisciplinary research networks in Heidelberg.

🎓 Eligibility & Qualifications

Candidates should have a Master’s or PhD degree in one of the following or a related field:

• Bioinformatics

• Computational Biology

• Biotechnology

• Data Science

• Genomics

• Computational Neuroscience

• Related biological or computational disciplines

🛠️ Desired Technical Skills

Candidates are expected to have experience or strong interest in:

• R and/or Python

• Shell scripting

• Bioinformatics pipeline development

• Genomics and transcriptomics data analysis

• Single-cell data analysis

• Multi-omics data integration

• High-performance computing (HPC)

Experience with gene regulatory network inference, epigenomics, or gene regulation will be considered an advantage.

A strong interest in developmental neuroscience, gene regulation, and computational genomics is highly desirable.

🌍 Language Requirement

Excellent written and spoken English is required.

🎁 Employment Benefits

The position offers several benefits, including:

• 30 days of annual vacation

• Company pension scheme through VBL

• Job ticket/public transport benefits

• Family-friendly childcare support

• Health and sports programs

• Opportunity to work within a strong interdisciplinary research environment

👥 Research Environment

The successful candidate will work within the Institute of Human Genetics at Heidelberg University Hospital and collaborate with established computational biology and bioinformatics research groups in Heidelberg, including teams associated with Carl Herrmann and Julio Saez-Rodriguez.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for researchers interested in computational biology, single-cell genomics, gene regulatory networks, epigenomics, and multi-omics research.

📩 How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official Heidelberg University Hospital career portal.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026
Job ID: V000015909
Position: PhD Student / Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Biology

Contact:
Dr. rer. nat. Magdalena Laugsch
Magdalena.Laugsch@uni-heidelberg.de

🔗 Official Job Advertisement & Online Application:
Apply through Heidelberg University Hospital