PhD student (m/f/d) in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology (4/2022) The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle (Saale), a research institute of the Leibniz Association, is offering a three-year position in the frame of a DFG-funded project for a PhD student (m/f/d) in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology at the Department of Bioorganic Chemistry within the research group “Computational Chemistry”.
We are looking for a creative, curious, team-minded and enthusiastic candidate to join our team to contribute to a project which will focus on the development of a machine learning (ML) architectures for the discovery, mining, and design of enzymes in the DFG Priority Programme SPP2363 “Utilization and Development of Machine Learning for Molecular Applications – Molecular Machine Learning” (https://www.uni-muenster.de/SPP2363/). To create the ML framework, state-of-the-art machine learning methods (deep learning, active learning, and reinforcement learning) will be combined with methods from computational biochemistry. The work will be performed in close collaboration with an experimental PhD candidate, who will work on enzymology.
The successful candidate must hold a Diploma or Master’s degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, computational (bio)chemistry or biophysics, or a closely related field and is supposed to have a solid command of English communications skills. Applicants should have a strong background in one of the following fields: programming language (Python, C/C++), machine learning and deep learning methods (PyTorch, TensorFlow), knowledge management and databases, computational biochemistry or biophysics. Prior experience with cheminformatics would be advantageous but not a prerequisite.
The IPB is an international research institute located on the Weinberg-Campus of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg and provides state-of-the-art facilities for research in plant biochemistry/proteomics, cell biology/imaging, and natural products chemistry/metabolomics. The Department of Bioorganic Chemistry offers a multinational, interdisciplinary, and highly stimulating scientific environment.
Please, contact Dr. Mehdi D. Davari (mehdi.davari@ipb-halle.de; Phone: 0049 (0) 345 5582 1360) for additional information.
Salary and excellent benefits (social and health insurance) will be based on German laws for employees in the public sector (TV-L E13, 65%).
Applications must include a cover letter describing research accomplishments and interests, a CV plus publication list, and contact details of 2 referees. Please send your complete application documents including the reference number 4/2022 exclusively by email to bewerbungen@ipb-halle.de.
Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
The successful applicant with a degree that was not obtained at a German university must submit a certificate assessment for foreign university qualifications (Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications) from the Central Office for Foreign Education