Group leader (m/f/d) „Human Cell Line Genomics“

in the multidisciplinary Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH. The position is offered full-time (39,8 hours/week) and is not appropriate for part time work. The position is paid up to a salary level of E14 (TV-L), depending on experience.

The Department Human and Animal Cell Lines is in charge of the open cell line collection at the DSMZ, performs quality controls and distributes cell lines to researchers worldwide. Our collection currently harbors more than 900 established cell lines, about 700 being of human origin with a special focus on cell lines of hematologic malignancies. These bioresources serve researchers across the world to conduct scientific projects on a non-profit base. In cell culture, virus and mycoplasma diagnostics, as well as authentication, are an integral part of both quality control and biosafety. These techniques are routinely applied in the department and offered as external service, which is highly valued by customers and colleagues. In addition to the routine activities in the collection, the department conducts research with and for the collection using cell culture models that are established in basic and preclinical research since many years.

Meaningful work: We are looking for a passionate scientist to join our team with expertise in high-throughput sequencing techniques and associated bioinformatic data analysis skills. High-throughput sequencing is state-of-the-art technique in characterizing human cell line models to understand perturbations in cellular signaling and function in human cancer. Currently, the establishment of panels of tumor entities by combining sequencing data with functional aspects is one focus of the department, to which we expect your contribution. Ideas opening new approaches to the collection by the use of sequencing data are highly encouraged. As group leader we expect you to conduct academic research including the recruitment of third-party funding and publishing within this field.
We developed the web tool DSMZCellDive (https://celldive.dsmz.de/) to provide acquired data to our customers and the research community with easy access. Within the DSMZ Digital Diversity hub, DSMZCellDive is to be further developed and expanded. We expect you to take a responsible role in this task.
In addition, your working group will coordinate and supervise the genotyping service for internal and external authentication purposes. Currently, genotyping is done by STR-typing, but exploration of modern sequencing techniques with regard to cell line authentication is desired. The provision of external services in cell line diagnostics includes communication with customers and the sales department and the issuing of official reports.

Collaborative and Supportive Environment: You will collaborate closely with a great team of experienced scientists and technicians. Research and routine activities are highly interlinked between all members of the department creating a very supportive environment with a particular strength in teamplay. The lab is located at the Science Campus Süd in Braunschweig, which is well equipped to support your research ambitions, including in-house sequencing capacities. Additionally, a broad national and international existing collaborative network offers chances for fruitful cooperation.

The Leibniz Institute DSMZ (www.dsmz.de) is an internationally-renowned biological resource center, research infrastructure, and service provider for academia and industry with one of the most diverse microbial and cell culture collections worldwide. It is funded by the State of Lower Saxony and the German Federal government and is a member of the Leibniz Association. The DSMZ strives to increase the proportion of female scientists and encourages female candidates to apply. Disabled applicants with identical technical and personal qualifications will be preferentially selected. In the case of degrees obtained abroad, proof of equivalence with a German degree must be enclosed. For further information, please refer to the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

The DSMZ is an equal opportunity employer, supports balanced work-life career development, and holds the certificate of the audit berufundfamilie®.