Postdoc / Semantic Data Architect for Virus Database (m/f/d)

The junior research group of Dr. Noriko Cassman at the Institute of Computer Sciences seeks a part‑time Semantic Data Architect (m/f/d) for metadata modelling, ontology engineering and knowledge graph design for the NFDI4Microbiota‑funded virus sequence analysis database VirJenDB. The junior group is embedded in the research group of Prof. Dr. Manja Marz (RNA Bioinformatics & High‑Throughput Analysis), which studies RNA bioinformatics, virus detection and evolution, and RNA structure prediction and annotation rna.uni‑jena.de. The position is situated in the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, a dynamic and innovation‑driven university with a broad range of disciplines, and in the young and lively town of Jena – the City of Science.

Your responsibilities:

• Maintain and formalize the VirJenDB metadata model
• Develop an ontology and design a knowledge graph
• Integrate the metadata model, ontology and knowledge graph into workflows
• Support the VirJenDB team and users in data modeling and schema design
• Engage in regular communication with the NFDI4Microbiota consortium and community, and provide training
• Write research papers and present the database team at meetings and symposia

Your profile:

• A highly motivated candidate with a PhD or equivalent experience in computer science, bioinformatics, data science, or a related discipline
• Excellent programming skills and experience with ontology engineering, formats and graph databases (python, C++/Java, MySQL, NoSQL, R, bash, Neo4j, GraphDB, RDF/S, SPARQL, JSON‑LD, RO‑Crates, ISA)
• Demonstrated commitment to best coding practices applying FAIR, CLEAR and Open Science principles as well as Semantic Web standards
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team
• Excellent communication skills in English are required, both written and spoken; German skills are a plus

We offer:

• Embedding in a cross‑disciplinary, international research group and a large national consortium with the joint goal to develop open and FAIR services, support and training for the research community
• Individual qualification and development measures
• A family‑friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities
• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV‑L) at salary scale E13 – depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications – including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement

The final full time equivalent (FTE) possible depends on the official announcement of prolongation of the project which will be known . The position is expected to commence on 7.8.2026 and last up to a year. This position is intended as a replacement for staff going on parental leave.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.