ETH Zurich is a world-leading university dedicated to advancing science and technology. The advertised position is based in the Computational Biology (CoBi) group led by Prof. Dagmar Iber, which uses advanced imaging and computational tools to develop data-driven, mechanistic models of biological systems. Located in Basel, the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) provides a vibrant research environment at the interface of biology, engineering, and medicine, and is surrounded by leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Project backgroundUnderstanding tissue development through experiments alone is challenging. Cell-based simulations are powerful tools to study how individual cells contribute to tissue structure and dynamics. The Iber group has developed
SimuCell3D, an efficient and scalable
3D tissue simulation framework written in C++, that enables the simulation of tissues with up to 100,000 deformable cells-including extracellular matrix and cavities-within a single day [Runser, et al., 2024, Nat Comput Sci 4, 299-309 (2024); Tweetorial ].
SimuCell3D represents a major advance in modeling tissue mechanics, cell polarization, and complex morphogenetic processes.
Job descriptionWe are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to:
- Develop and integrate numerical solvers for reaction-diffusion systems
- Extend the existing C++ codebase with additional biophysical features
- Apply the framework to morphogenetic problems based on imaging data
- Run large-scale simulations on ETH Zurich's high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure
- Perform model calibration, parameter screening, and validation
- Compare simulations to experimental data and prepare high-quality visualizations
ProfileWe welcome applications from candidates with:
- A PhD in computational science, computational biology, applied mathematics, physics, or a related field
- Strong, documented experience in C++ programming and solid software engineering skills - applicants should clearly demonstrate these in their application materials
- Familiarity with numerical methods for PDEs (e.g., finite difference or finite element methods)
- Experience with tissue simulations and/or HPC is a plus
- Interest in biophysics, developmental biology, or cell signaling (prior expertise not required)
- A structured, independent, proactive and collaborative working style
We offer - A fully funded position with an internationally competitive salary and excellent benefits, in accordance with ETH Zurich guidelines
- Professional development opportunities, including support for grant applications (e.g., SNSF Ambizione ) and participation in conferences and workshops
- Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including ETH's high-performance computing (HPC) clusters
- A dynamic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research environment
- Flexible working arrangements, including the option for partial remote work
- The position is initially offered for one year, with the possibility of annual renewal for up to six years
> Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich
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