The Department of Biomedicine (DBM) at the University of Basel, in collaboration with the Basel Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH), is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in the newly established Computational Cellular Dynamics (CCD) Lab led by Marius Lange. Starting in January 2027, this research group develops cutting-edge generative models to understand how human tissues develop, mature, and regenerate, with a particular focus on pediatric health and disease mechanisms.
This is an exceptional opportunity for quantitative minds to work at the intersection of machine learning, single-cell genomics, and clinical medicine within one of Europe’s premier life-science hubs.
Fully Funded PhD Position in Generative Modeling of Human Development and Disease – University of Basel, Switzerland
Overview of the Position
Below is a summary of the key details regarding this doctoral opportunity:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Designation | PhD Candidate (PhD Position) |
| Host Institution | University of Basel (Department of Biomedicine & BRCCH) |
| Research Area | Generative Modeling, Single-Cell & Spatial Genomics, Computational Biology |
| Location | Basel, Switzerland |
| Duration/Funding | Fully funded for 4 years (100% position) |
| Application Deadline | Open until filled (Early applications encouraged) |
Research Area & Projects
As a PhD student in the CCD Lab, you will develop generative models using single-cell and spatial genomics data obtained from advanced sequencing and imaging technologies. Your research will contribute to modeling human developmental and disease biology. Key research directions include:
- Generative Models of Cell-Cell Communication: Developing predictive models to understand how cells react to complex signaling cues, moving beyond static descriptive analyses.
- Joint Models of Regulation and Dynamics: Utilizing flow- and diffusion-based models of cellular dynamics, incorporating regularization, time-resolved perturbation, and lineage-tracing data to uncover underlying biological regulatory principles.
- Intervention Design and Continual Learning: Designing targeted interventions to steer cellular states toward desired molecular configurations, and building adaptive models that update in a lab-in-the-loop setup.
These projects build upon the lab’s acclaimed open-source software tools, including scVelo, CellRank, CellRank 2, moslin, moscot, and RegVelo.
Eligibility & Qualification Requirements
Candidates applying for this position must meet the following criteria:
Required Qualifications:
- An MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computational Biology, or a closely related quantitative field.
- Hands-on experience working with biological datasets.
- Strong programming skills in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX.
- A solid statistical foundation to reason about and evaluate complex computational models.
- An active GitHub profile containing original code you have developed.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
Desirable Attributes:
- Prior experience working specifically with single-cell or spatial genomics data.
- Previous contributions to open-source scientific software.
Scholarship Description & What is Offered
The University of Basel offers a highly competitive package to support your academic and professional development:
- Full Funding: A 100% funded PhD position for up to four years, with generous computational and data-generation resources.
- World-Class Research Network: Direct access to pediatric and adult clinical samples via established hospital partnerships in Basel.
- Academic Development: Enrollment in the prestigious International PhD Programme in Biomedicine, providing specialized course modules, transferable skills training, and career mentorship.
- Competitive Compensation: Internationally competitive salary and social benefits according to the standard regulations of the University of Basel.
- Prime Location: Basel is a vibrant, multicultural city bordering France and Germany, offering a high quality of life. It is home to an incredibly dense life-science ecosystem, which includes ETH Zurich’s D-BSSE, the Friedrich Miescher Institute (FMI), the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE), and global pharmaceutical leaders.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application directly through the University of Basel’s online recruitment portal. Prepare to provide your CV, a cover letter outlining your research interests, transcripts of your academic records, and a link to your GitHub profile.
To submit your application or to read more about the position details, please use the official link below:
Apply Here: University of Basel PhD Application Portal
Last Date to Apply
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. There is no strict deadline listed, but candidates are highly encouraged to apply as early as possible before the lab’s official launch in January 2027.
