Tasks:
The postdoctoral researcher will lead the computational analysis and integration of metagenomic datasets from human cohorts and animal models to uncover microbiome-driven mechanisms underlying chronic pain within an international, multi-site research consortium.
1. PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational biology, Microbiology or Microbial Ecology (with strong emphasis on computational analysis of microbiome and sequencing data), Systems Biology, Biostatistics
2. Lead the analysis of shotgun metagenomic datasets from human cohorts and animal models to identify microbiome signatures associated with chronic pain
3. Develop, implement, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics pipelines for processing, integration, and interpretation of multi-source microbiome data
4. Integrate microbiome data with clinical, phenotypic, and experimental datasets to enable translational insights within the project
5. Coordinate and collaborate across international project partners (UK, Switzerland, Romania), contributing to joint analyses, publications, and data harmonization efforts
Profile:
6. Advanced metagenomics and microbiome data analysis, including processing and interpretation of shotgun sequencing datasets
7. Strong programming and computational skills, particularly in languages such as Python and/or R, and experience with bioinformatics workflows
8. Experience with high-throughput sequencing data and reproducible analysis pipelines, including workflow management and data handling
9. Solid understanding of microbial ecology and host–microbiome interactions, ideally in the context of translational or biomedical research
10. Desirable: Experience in multi-omics data integration, particularly in combination with clinical or phenotypic datasets Familiarity with clinical cohort data analysis, including data structuring and statistical evaluation Knowledge of reproducible research practices and data management standards, such as version control, workflow management, and FAIR principles Experience working in international and interdisciplinary research environments, ideally within collaborative consortia
11. Proactive and self-driven working style, with the ability to independently identify problems and develop solutions
12. Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the capacity to handle complex, multi-source datasets and deadlines
13. Excellent communication and collaboration skills (both within the lab and with external partners), enabling effective interaction across international and interdisciplinary teams
14. Adaptability and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to navigate challenges in a dynamic research environment
Why choose us?
We offer…
15. 30 days of vacation
16. A bonus of 3,000 euros for employees who help recruit employees in the care sector
17. An attractive company pension scheme from VBL
18. Education opportunities, including updating and upgrading
19. Access to public transport
20. In-house kindergarten (places subject to availability)
21. Staff residences (places subject to availability and by arrangement)
22. An onboarding app for new employees
23. Extended opening hours in the staff restaurant