Come on board!
We are looking for talented and motivated postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to join our team!
You will develop algorithms and/or spearhead the analysis of cancer genomics projects focused on chromosomal instability, cancer evolution and cancer gene regulation.
Ideal postdoc candidates will recently have obtained a PhD and have a strong background in computational biology, genomics or a related field and a strong interest in quantitative research. Prior experience in single-cell or cancer genomics is a plus.
Ideal PhD candidates will have a Masters degree in bioinformatics, physics, mathematics, computer science or a related field and some prior experience with analysing genomics data.
We also offer MD projects for physicians with an interest in quantitative research as well as opportunities for Bachelor or Master theses and internships. Please contact Roland directly.
Successful candidates should be enthusiastic about working in a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment.
Please note that, due to the high volume of applications and inquiries, we may not be able to respond to each submission individually.
Current openings
November 04, 2026
Computational PhD student in Cancer Genomics
About the project
As a successful candidate you will develop algorithms and models to investigate cancer evolution and chromosomal instability. A focus lies on the development of AI methods for improved phylogenetic reconstructions and feature space embeddings from complex genomics data. You will be part of CLONETRAC, a collaborative consortium with the aim of tracking the clonal dynamics of cancer through treatment at the single-cell level, funded by the Bruno and Helene Jöster Foundation. You will be embedded in a thriving interdisciplinary and collaborative team of computational biologists, computer scientists and clinicians at the University Hospital of Cologne.
About you
Ideal candidates will have a Masters degree in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics or a related field. A strong background in theoretical and/or applied machine learning and AI, and a strong interest in medical research is expected. Prior experience in cancer genomics is a plus. Successful candidates will show a strong work ethic and should be enthusiastic about working in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team are required.
For further reading and our recent works see:
| Kaufmann et al. 2022, Genome Biology | Kaufmann et al. 2026, bioRxiv |
About the position
We offer a competitive salary according to German E13 TVL 75%. Contracts are limited to 3 years with the possibility of prolongation. Applications should be submitted online here. For inquiries, please email Prof. Roland Schwarz. The position is to be filled as soon as possible; applications will be considered initially until December 6.
How to apply and more information
To apply for any of the advertised positions above, use the red button at the end of the job description!
You are uncertain if your professional profile would be a good fit? There seem to be currently no open positions?
We will always consider applications from outstanding candidates.
In this case, please send your application as a single PDF via email to Prof. Roland Schwarz. Applications should include:
- Cover letter stating your general career objectives and research interests,
- CV with publication list,
- Names and contact information of three references.
