The  German Institute of Human Nutrition  Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE) is a member of the Leibniz Association. The institute’s mission is to conduct experimental and clinical research in the field of nutrition and health, with the aim of understanding the molecular basis of nutrition-dependent diseases, and of developing new strategies for treatment and prevention.

The Department of Experimental Diabetology is an internationally recognized research-based department encompassing life sciences and a partner of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD). We invite applications for 

Tasks

The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team to perform Bioinformatics Studies on Epigenetic Regulation of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Diabetic patients are very heterogeneous and can develop different complications e.g. nephropathies, retinopathies and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, a refined classification was recently conducted, by using six clinical parameters, and allocated the patients in five diabetes-clusters. Our ultimate goal is to improve the identified classification and assign new epigenetic biomarkers in order to allow a relatively simple, early and reliable diagnosis. Therefore, the master student will create multiple analysis pipelines that allow the epigenetic stratification of the diabetic patients.
The tasks would be:

• Compare different clustering models and evaluate the discriminative precision of each calculation
• Use the most stringent model to create DNA methylation and/or phenotypic clusters

With this the student will learn to connect complex multi-omics datasets, including DNA methylation and clinical traits that will be run in collaboration with academic and clinical researchers.
 
Skills and requirements

The DIfE invites applicants with academic background in an appropriate discipline e.g. – bioinformatics, mathematics, statistics, or in a biological science with substantial analytical background knowledge.
 
The candidate will enjoy team working and interactions with experimental scientists and other bioinformaticians to work on complex datasets, and will have experience using tools such as R/Bioconductor or python. Basic skills in R/ Bioconductor and intrinsic interest in epigenetics would be an asset.
  The institute offers excellent working conditions in an interactive and multidisciplinary research environment, with state-of-the-art equipment, qualified training and the opportunity to continue on a PhD position afterwards.

Please send your application until latest March 31^th, 2021 in print to:
 
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam- Rehbruecke
Human Resources and Social Services
Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116
14558 Nuthetal
or per E-Mail to Office.DIAB@dife.de  
 
For further information please do not hesitate to contact:
Prof. Dr. Annette Schürmann
Head of Department Experimental Diabetology
Tel.: +49 33 200 88 - 2368
E-Mail: schuermann@dife.de
 
Dr. Meriem Ouni,
responsible postdoc for the project
E-Mail: Meriem.Ouni@dife.de
 
By submitting your application documents, you grant us the right to collect, process, and use your personal data exclusively for the application selection process. For further information about your rights according to the data protection law, please contact the department Human Resources and Social Services (jobs@dife.de).