Junior Research Group Leader “Machine Learning Data Integration from Photonics to Genomics” (m/f/d)

The research group of Prof. Dr. Manja Marz at the Institute of Computer Sciences is looking for an enthusiastic, ambitious, and visionary early-career researcher (m/f/d) to join our team as a junior research group leader in “machine learning data integration from photonics to genomics”. The group is situated at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, a dynamic and innovation-driven university with a broad range of disciplines, and in the young and lively town Jena – the City of Science.

This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your scientific leadership skills and establish an independent junior research group dedicated to advancing innovative computational approaches at the interface of virology, bioinformatics, genomics, and photonics-based data analysis. You will collaborate with leading experts across these disciplines and contribute to groundbreaking methodological developments. If you are passionate about machine learning, data integration, and computational biology, and have a strong desire to build and lead a dynamic research team, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of integrative virus research.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a junior research group focused on machine learning, bioinformatics, and multi-modal data integration
• Conduct pioneering research in the integration of viral omics and photonics-based data
• Develop and implement novel algorithms, models, and methodologies for representation learning, multi-modal fusion, and predictive modeling
• Collaborate closely with national and international researchers, including virology, photonics, and data management partners of the Collaborative Research Centre VirusREvolution

• Contribute to the development of FAIR-compliant data workflows and interoperable research infrastructures
• Support the interpretation of integrated molecular and optical datasets in a biological and mechanistic context

• Mentor and supervise doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and other junior team members
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in computer science, statistics, machine learning/AI, and related subjects
• Oversee the administrative management of the research group
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements

Your profile:

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a closely related field. Candidates in the final stages of obtaining their degree are eligible to apply
• Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, statistical modeling, and computational methods for multi-modal data integration
• Experience in representation learning, model development, and the analysis of high-dimensional biological data
• Proficiency in programming languages relevant to data science and computational research
• Ability to develop and implement innovative algorithms and models
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken; German is an advantage
• Experience in working in interdisciplinary teams, or a strong willingness and ability to work in such a setting
• Enthusiasm for advancing knowledge in virus bioinformatics and integrative computational biology, and for contributing to cutting-edge research
• Prior teaching, mentoring, or supervision experience is a plus

We offer:

• Independent work with one of the largest employers in Thuringia/exciting and varied fields of activity with creative freedom
• Embedding in a cross-disciplinary, international, young research group and a large, ambitious research consortium with the joint goal to develop novel tools for virus discovery, characterisation, regulation, interaction, and visualisation
• Flexible working hours (flexitime and, if applicable, home office)
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office ‘JUniFamilie’ and flexible childcare (‘JUniKinder)
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g. capital formation benefits (VL), Job Ticket (benefits for public transport), and an occupational pension (VBL)
• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L), including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement

The position is envisioned to begin between October 2026 and January 2027. It is a full-time, fixed-term position until 30 June 2030.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you an early career researcher with experience in machine learning and multi-modal data integration? Would you like to lead your own group, including PhD students, and pursue your own independent research? Then submit your detailed written application, by email as one PDF file, stating “Junior Research Group Leader” in the subject line, to:

Prof. Dr. Manja Marz
RNA Bioinformatics & High-Throughput Analysis
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Inselplatz 5
07743 Jena, Germany

E-Mail: rna@uni-jena.de