Research scientist / PhD position (m/f/d) in mathematical oncology

Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Research group: Mathematical Oncology (Head: Prof. Dr. Philipp Altrock, Heisenberg-Professor for Cancer Modeling and Evolution)

Your project will focus on statistical and mathematical modeling of the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of cancer. We are particularly interested in describing cancer growth under changing selection pressures exerted by complex treatment schedules, changes in the immune environment, and variation in inflammatory processes. In addition, we are interested in cellular plasticity’s role in treatment evasion and immune system-cancer interactions, with special emphasis on cellular immunotherapies.

We are looking for a committed, inquisitive, and curious team player to start as soon as possible in our interdisciplinary research group focused on mathematical oncology and cancer evolutionary dynamics. The position is available in the newly set-up Heisenberg research group. Close collaboration with clinical and basic researchers in oncology enables an interdisciplinary research environment driven by team science. We use and further develop methods from evolutionary dynamics, stochastic processes, dynamical systems theory, statistics, and artificial intelligence to advance our understanding of cancer's complex dynamics and improve personalized treatment selection and patient care.

Start in our team

We are looking for professional and competent support to start as soon as possible, initially limited for three years.

What we offer:

• The salary will be based on the German E13 TV-L scale, if the terms and conditions under collective bargaining law are fulfilled
• Part-time employment currently 25 hours/week
• Many employee discounts are available on various online platforms and with multiple companies
• Free in-house training and continuing education
• An attractive company pension plan from the public sect

Your tasks

• You will develop and explore mathematical cancer models and develop data-driven modeling approaches to enable predictive quantitative tools of empirically observed cancer response and relapse patterns
• You work in an interactive context with other projects of the research group, which aims to understand the impact of complex cellular interactions on cancer growth patterns and time-to-event statistics

Your profile

• We are looking for an enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in life sciences, (bio)informatics, physics, or mathematics with prior experience in cancer research. Basic knowledge in dynamical systems, agent-based modeling, or applied probability theory is required, as well as a strong interest in independently acquiring an in-depth understanding of the project background and familiarizing yourself with novel methods.
• Advanced programming skills are a prerequisite (python, R, matlab); experience in analyzing high-dimensional, multi-modal data sets is advantageous.
• A solid command of the English language is essential; the working language of the research group is English.
• If you are a focused individual with a strong work ethic who is ready to collaborate within the group and with its collaborators, we are looking forward to your application!

We are looking forward to your application including a cover letter, CV and at least two references. Please submit your application until 27th June 2025, indicating the reference number 26806.

Additional information:

Prof. Dr. Philipp Altrock, PhilippMartin.Altrock@uksh.de, paltrock.github.io