Independent Research Group Leaders (f/m/d) for Computational RNA Biology

Independent Research Group Leader (f/m/d) for Computational RNA Biology

The

Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)

and the newly funded

Cluster of Excellence SCALE (SubCellular Architecture of LifE)

are seeking an

Independent Research Group Leader (f/m/d)

in

Computational RNA Biology . Our Mission

The primary goal of

SCALE

and

FIAS

is to create

Digital Twins of sub-cellular architecture , mapping and simulating the internal structure of cells with unprecedented detail. By integrating

RNA and spatial ribonomics data , we aim to deepen our understanding of key biological processes and their relevance to major diseases, including

bacterial resistance, neurodegeneration, and inflammation . We Offer

A

competitive group leader salary

and a

5-year appointment Funding for

two PhD students

and

running costs Co-affiliation with Goethe University Frankfurt

(upon consideration) A research environment at

FIAS , integrated into the

SCALE Cluster

and the

Research Campus Riedberg , which provides

advanced infrastructure for computational biology Your Profile

We seek an

outstanding early-career scientist

to establish an

independent research program in Computational RNA Biology . The successful candidate will develop

theoretical, computational, and AI-based approaches

to investigate how

RNAs and RNA-binding proteins

control: Gene regulation Protein function Subcellular organization Biomolecular condensation Intracellular transport A

collaborative and open-science attitude

is essential. Research Focus Areas

Candidates should establish an

innovative and internationally competitive research program

in at least

one

of the following areas: 1. Modeling RNA in Biological Systems

Development of

mathematical, multiscale, and agent-based models

to understand how

RNAs and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assemblies

regulate:

Gene expression Cellular behavior Subcellular organization

Integration of

transcriptomics, ribonomics, interactomics, structural biology, and imaging datasets

into

predictive computational frameworks Application of:

Atomistic simulations Coarse-grained modeling RNA folding prediction RNA-protein and RNA-small molecule interaction modeling Polymer physics Statistical inference to study

RNA structure, function, transport, and regulatory mechanisms

in

health and disease

2. AI and Machine Learning for RNA Biology

Development of:

Deep learning Graph neural networks Generative AI RNA foundation models to analyze

large-scale omics, spatial transcriptomics, ribonomics, and imaging datasets

Use of

AI to predict :

RNA structure and localization Regulatory functions RNA-protein interactions Condensate formation Effects of mutations and disease-associated perturbations on

RNA-dependent regulation and cellular organization

3. Integrative Structural and Spatial RNA Biology

Integration of

multimodal datasets , including:

Cryo-EM and Cryo-ET Super-resolution microscopy Single-molecule imaging Spatial omics CLIP-based interaction maps Large-scale imaging datasets for

comprehensive modeling of RNA-containing molecular assemblies and subcellular architecture

Development of

scalable visualization, analysis, and software solutions

for

RNA-centered cell biology Diversity & Inclusion

FIAS

and

SCALE

are committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes

equality, diversity, and inclusion . We strongly encourage applications from

qualified individuals regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation .

Severely disabled persons with equal qualifications will be given priority. Your Application

Submit your application by

30 August 2026

via our

online portal : Required documents: CV Research statement

(past achievements and future plans,

max. 4 pages ) List of annotated top 5 publications Potential candidates will be invited to a

symposium for a presentation and interview . Contact

For further questions, please reach out to: Scientific issues:

Prof. Michaela Müller-McNicoll ( ) Administrative issues:

Meike Taplik ( ) Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)

Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1 60438 Frankfurt am Main About FIAS About SCALE