Postdoctoral Researcher - Biomedical Semantics, Ontologies, and Large Language Model Integration

Postdoctoral Researcher - Biomedical Semantics, Ontologies, and Large Language Model Integration

Reference number: Location: Heidelberg Employment type: Full-time Department: Radiooncology / Radiobiology Start date: September 15 Contract duration: Limited until December 12, 2027

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is one of Europe's largest cancer research centers. "Research for a life without cancer" is the mission of our world-class scientists and all our team members. The DKFZ provides a dynamic environment that empowers excellence with state-of-the-art technologies, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a global scientific network.

Your Tasks

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary project at the intersection of biomedical informatics, semantic technologies, and large language models (LLMs). The position is embedded in the MIRO-LLMs initiative (Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration), which focuses on advancing machine-interpretable research objects through ontology-driven approaches and AI-assisted knowledge integration.

• Contribute to the design and implementation of domain ontologies, knowledge graphs, and semantic data models that enable structured integration of biomedical research data with LLM-based systems.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists, clinicians, and AI researchers to ensure semantic interoperability, FAIR data principles, and robust metadata standards across heterogeneous datasets.
• Develop and maintain ontologies using OWL/RDF, implement semantic pipelines and APIs, and integrate structured knowledge with LLM workflows.
• Contribute to research publications and open-source tools development.
• Equivalent training will be provided to stay up to date with our methodology.

Your Profile

• Master's degree in life sciences, computer science, mathematics, physics, or engineering with strong computational and data analysis skills.
• Good knowledge of programming in Python, R, or similar.
• Experienced with semantic web technologies such as SPARQL and RDF triple stores.
• Experienced with graph databases and knowledge graphs for biomedical data integration.
• Solid understanding of biomedical data contexts, such as in preclinical and clinical trials, imaging, or omics.
• Familiarity with data standards such as CDISC, FHIR, OMOP Common Data Model (CDM), and OBO ontologies is highly desirable.
• Team player with good English proficiency.

We Offer

• Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level.
• Remuneration according to TV-L including occupational pension plan and capital-forming payments.
• 30 days of vacation per year.
• Flexible working hours, possibility of mobile work and part-time work.
• Family-friendly working environment.
• Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket.
• Corporate Health Management Program with a holistic approach to well-being.
• Access to the DKFZ International Postdoc Program and DKFZ Career Service for personal and professional development.

Contact

Dr. Wahyu Wijaya Hadiwikarta Phone:

Application Details

Application deadline: August 18, 2026 Applications by e-mail cannot be accepted. Please note that we cannot return applications submitted by post.

We are convinced that an innovative research and working environment thrives on the diversity of its employees. Therefore, we welcome applications from talented people, regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical ability, religion, and age. People with severe disabilities are given preference if they have the same aptitude.

Notice: We are subject to the regulations of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). Therefore, all our employees must provide proof of immunity against measles.