Postdoc in physics

The Natural History Museum Karlsruhe is looking for a postdoc in physics (m/f/d) for the project “Virtual Museum”. The position is limited to 3 years, full time, EG 13 TV‑L.

Topic : Towards Serial Micro‑Computed Tomography (SµCT) with synchrotron radiation.

Summary : The aim is to develop autonomous X‑ray Serial Micro‑Computed Tomography (SµCT) with synchrotron radiation for morphological imaging of large collections of biological samples from natural history museums for large‑scale biodiversity and evolutionary studies. Your research will focus on multiple contrast and hierarchical imaging by use of coherent X‑ray optics, state‑of‑the‑art image reconstruction algorithms, and experiment automation to optimize imaging conditions.

Scientific context : The collaborative VIRTUAL MUSEUM project combines the expertise and infrastructure of the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe (SMNK), State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (SMNS), and the two Synchrotron Radiation Facilities KIT Light Source at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and PETRA III at DESY, Hamburg. It will revolutionize how scientific collections are digitized, creating a scalable, automated morphological imaging system to capture the rich diversity of fossil and living specimens. We employ most advanced coherent X‑ray imaging techniques, implement intelligent robotics, develop AI‑supported image acquisition and analysis routines with adaptive control systems for adaptive field of view, resolution and image contrast, on‑the‑fly 3D reconstruction, and automated quality check to achieve serial tomography without manual intervention. This will enable transforming large sample collections into virtual, research‑ready digital twin collections accessible worldwide for comparative morphology analysis in correlation with genetic, environmental and other metadata. This will open the door to large‑scale, data‑driven biodiversity and evolutionary studies, support VR‑compatible exploration of collections, and form a key pillar in Germany’s strategy for digital natural history research.

Major parts of the methodical, instrumental and experimental work will be carried out at the Institute of Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation at KIT with experimental campaigns being performed at PETRA III, DESY Hamburg.

Your Tasks

• Implement serial Micro-Computed Tomography adapted to the needs of large arthropod collections.
• Implement hierarchical imaging and serial tomography workflows.
• Integrate optional imaging optics into the pipeline, including high‑level control and on‑line compensation for mechanical instabilities and beam drift.
• Implement algorithms for on‑line pre‑characterisation of samples from visible light images and fast low‑quality X‑ray scans for AI‑supported selection of final DAQ parameters.
• Implement hierarchical imaging workflows.
• Perform exemplary measuring campaigns of various types of arthropod sample collections.
• Coordinate experimental campaigns and contribute to scientific publications and conference contributions.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, or related disciplines.
• Experience with X‑ray imaging physics, image reconstruction and signal processing.
• Knowledge of tomographic methods and phase contrast imaging.
• Skills in data analysis and algorithm development in Python.
• Familiarity with experimental setups and optics integration.

Benefits

• Payment will be in EG 13 TV‑L.
• Contract duration of three years.
• Contribution to a BMFTR funded project.
• Dynamic collaboration in an international research team.
• The opportunity to work at a nationally renowned research museum with recognized collections and an attractive exhibition.
• Access to most advanced X‑ray imaging technologies at the KIT Light Source in Karlsruhe and at the PETRA III Storage Ring at DESY, Hamburg.
• Flexible work time and family‑friendly working hours (39.5 h/week); possibility of mobile working (1 day/week).

Participation in company health management, job ticket and job bike subsidised by the state of Baden‑Württemberg.

Equal opportunities are crucial to our human resources policy. We highly value diversity and therefore welcome all applications, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. People with disabilities obtain preferential consideration if equally qualified. Please mention this in your cover letter and enclose proof of your disability. The SMNK strives to increase the proportion of women in areas where under‑represented and therefore expressly encourages qualified women to apply.