PhD in AI & Data Science for Cancer Research with Real World Impact

Help shape the future of personalized skin cancer prevention and diagnostics by developing AI-driven methods that integrate diverse biomedical datasets. We seek real world impact, meaning the PhD project is in collaboration with two large German companies (Beiersdorf and HEINE Optotechnik), to help patients benefit from the developed solutions as fast as possible.

As part of this PhD position, you will not only contribute to cutting-edge AI research in dermatology but also lead a key bioinformatics project aimed at integrating multiple data sources for personalized skin cancer prevention. Your work will be instrumental in building a scalable bioinformatic infrastructure that connects epigenetic data, microbiome analyses, and AI-enhanced dermatoscopic imaging.

Your tasks will include:

• Development of AI-driven models for skin cancer diagnostics and early detection, with a focus on robustness, explainability, and clinical applicability.
• Building a bioinformatic pipeline that integrates epigenetic profiling (TapeLift),microbiome data, and AI-based image analysis to create predictive models for personalized prevention strategies.
• Designing and validating a digital dashboard for real-time risk stratification and clinical decision-making, ensuring accessibility for both clinicians and patients.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary experts, including dermatologists, AI researchers, statisticians, and computational biologists, to optimize data-driven prevention strategies.
• Validating the developed models and infrastructure through pilot studies with data from 100 study participants, ensuring real-world applicability.
• Publishing in top-tier scientific journals and contributing to clinical studies to validate the effectiveness of AI-assisted diagnostics.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who is passionate about AI in biomedical research and eager to translate machine learning innovations into real-world clinical applications.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) inData Science, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong background inmachine learning, deep learning, and data integration.
• Experience incomputer vision and medical image analysisis a plus.
• Proficiency in Pythonand AI frameworks (TensorFlow/PyTorch).
• Interest or experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, and large-scale data processing.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Fluent in English (German is not required but beneficial).

How to Apply

Please submit your CV, cover letter, and academic transcripts via our online portal. We look forward to your application.

You can look forward to:

• Impactful Research: Work on a pioneering AI-driven prevention and diagnostics project that has the potential to revolutionize skin cancer care.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to attend international conferences, workshops, and specialized AI training programs.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work alongsideleading experts in dermatology, AI, and bioinformaticsat one of Europe’s top cancer research institutions.

• Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level
• Access to international research networks
• Doctoral salary with the usual social benefits
• 30 days of vacation per year
• Flexible working hours
• Possibility of part-time work
• Family-friendly working environment
• Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket
• Unleash your full potential: targeted training and mentoring through the DKFZ International PhD Program and DKFZ Career Service
• Our Corporate Health Management Program offers a holistic approach to your well-being