Ph.D. student in RNA bioinformatics
External Job Announcement Reg.-Nr. 5–2962/25‑D
The Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Institute of Computer Science seeks to fill a 3‑year, fixed-term position of a
Ph.D. student / research assistant in RNA bioinformatics (m/f/d)
in part-time 75%.
An ideal start date would be July 2025, but the start date is flexible.
The salary will correspond to pay group “Entgeltgruppe 13 TV‑L”, depending on assigned tasks and individual qualifications.
Project summary: Non-coding RNAs play a variety of important roles in biology, e.g., CRISPR-Cas, metabolite-binding RNAs, regulatory RNAs and catalytic RNAs. With huge and increasing amounts of sequence data available, researchers have new opportunities to discover rare yet fascinating non-coding RNAs. Unfortunately, searches in larger datasets lead to many more false positives, which can make RNA discoveries difficult or impossible.
In this Ph.D. position, you will create algorithms for RNA searches that dramatically reduce false positive rates. Then, you will apply these improved methods to find new non-coding RNAs, which our experimental collaborators will validate and investigate further.
Tasks:
- Develop algorithms and associated software for RNA similarity search.
- Analyze large sequence databases to test and refine these algorithms.
- Apply the software to discover new non-coding RNAs.
- Collaborate with biochemists and biologists for validation of predictions.
- Present findings internally and at public conferences. Publish academic papers and software.
This position offers the opportunity to complete a doctoral degree.
Requirements:
- Completed university degree (Master of Science or Diploma) in bioinformatics or a related field.
- Proficiency in UNIX and a scripting language, e.g. Python, ideally in a research context.
- Strong background in bioinformatics and molecular biology.
- Experience with HPC clusters, machine learning, Python and C/C++ is desirable, but not required.
- Motivation to conduct bioinformatics-driven biology research and to publish results.
- Excellent written and spoken English. German is desirable.
- Good critical thinking and problem solving skills, attention to detail and ability to learn.
- Ability to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team, and improve plans based on feedback
Applications from severely disabled people will be given priority if they have the same suitability and ability. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful applicants with a degree that was not obtained at a German university will have to submit a Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications from the Central Office for Foreign Education (https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html) during the hiring process.
Questions can be sent to Dr. Zasha Weinberg at zasha.weinberg@informatik.uni-halle.de .
Please e‑mail your application, quoting Reg.-Nr. 5–2962/25‑D by April 21, 2025 to Dr. Zasha Weinberg at
zasha.weinberg@informatik.uni-halle.de . The application should include the following in PDF format: (1) cover letter explaining your suitability for this project and interest in it, (2) Curriculum vitae (CV), (3) Your Master’s thesis (if complete/nearly complete) or an abstract of it (if still pending), (4) A copy of your transcript of records for university education (should list courses and grades, but does not have to be official or certified), (5) Names and contact information for two references who can best support your suitability for this position. The application should be in English, but your Master’s thesis (or abstract) and transcripts can be in English or German.
This call for applications is subject to possible budgetary restrictions.
Application costs cannot be reimbursed by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.