Full Professorship (W 3) for Computational Precision Nutrition

Founded in 1991, the University of Potsdam has firmly established itself in the scientific landscape and has become an outstanding economic factor and development engine for the region. It has a high level of third-party funding, has won several awards for teaching, and has a service-oriented administration and has re-ceived several awards for being family-friendly. Around 22,000 students and 3,000 employees work at three locations - Am Neuen Palais, Griebnitzsee and Golm - at one of the most beautifully situated academic institu-tions in Germany.

The Faculty of Science, Institute of Nutritional Science at the University of Potsdam invites applications for a joint professorship under the Jülich Model with the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), an Institute of the Leibniz Association, to be filled as soon as possible:

Full Professorship (W 3) for Computational Precision Nutrition

The University of Potsdam and the DIfE are looking for outstanding candidates with an excellent, internationally recognized track record in data science research and a strong interest in the field of nutrition and/or metabolic research. We are seeking either a highly motivated computational scientist (mathematician, bioinformatician, or comparable specialization) with experience in the life sciences or a life scientist with experience in computational research. The ideal candidate will actively apply current approaches in precision medicine to the field of nutrition research and develop personalized diets and/or dietary patterns for the prevention of chronic cardiometabolic diseases based on specific individual characteristics and preferences. 

It is expected that the candidate will apply and establish computational tools to integrate complementing data from humans and mice in a structured manner, using mathematical modeling and bioinformatic approaches to analyze and interpret them. The overarching aim is the quantitative investigation of personalized nutritional approaches and the identification of individual characteristics for the stratification and prediction of the pathogenesis, prevention, and treat-ment of nutritional, metabolic, and age-related diseases. 

The successful candidate will head the "Computational Precision Nutrition" department at the DIfE. Using expertise in mathematical and bioinformatic methods, this department will identify biomarkers that can be used for risk prediction or to identify subgroups that respond positively or negatively to certain diets and dietary patterns. Computations shall, e.g., be based on multiome datasets from laboratory experimental studies as well as from clinical intervention and cohort studies already available at the DIfE or generated in collaboration with other groups. 

The candidate will enhance our collaboration with the German Centers for Diabetes Research (DZD), Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), and Mental Health (DZPG). 

Leadership skills, a proven commitment to teaching, and experience in acquiring third-party funding are required.

The DIfE is a top nutritional research institute in Germany, which offers:

• an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration with leading scientists from various spe-cializations, 
• support for continuing career and personal development through participation in the Leib-niz Leadership Academy,
• access to a variety of data sets from prospective cohort studies (EPIC, NAKO), nutritional intervention studies, and experimental mouse studies, 
• excellent IT infrastructure and dedicated office and laboratory spaces.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Tilman Grune (scientific.director(at)dife.de) or Prof. Dr. André Kleinridders (kleinridders(at)uni-potsdam.de). 

The joint appointment will be implemented according to the “Jülich Model” with a teaching obligation of 2 hours per week within the curriculum of the Institute of Nutritional Science at the University of Potsdam. 

The hiring process is subject to the requirements set forth in Section 43 subsection 1 sentence 1 no. 1 – 3 and no. 4 letters a and c of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG). The appointment procedure is conducted in accordance with Section 42 BbgHG. 

The University of Potsdam and the DIfE value diversity and thus pursue the goals of equal opportuni-ties and diversity in accordance with the general principle of equal treatment. One of the UP’s and DIfE’s strategic goals is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Therefore, the UP and the DIfE expressly invite applications from qualified female scientists. People with a severe disability will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Periods of time taken for parental leave or caregiving are taken into account when assessing applicants’ academic careers. The implementation of equality and diversity standards in the respective field of work is expected.

We also offer dual career support and coaching for newly appointed professors.

Please submit your application, with the relevant documentation, via email to ausschreibungen(at)uni-potsdam.de by October 07, 2024. Further information is available online at 

https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/arbeiten-an-der-up/appointments/appointment-procedures/application 

To view the full job posting, please visit:

https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/verwaltung/dezernat3/stellenausschreibungen/w2-und-w3-professuren