Postdoctoral associate (m/w/d) in the Computational Neurology Group

Faculty of Medicine : Neurostimulation Computational Neurology

In order to fill a fixed-term position in full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) between 01.08. and (to be discussed), we are looking for 1 Postdoctoral associate (m/w/d) in the Computational Neurology Group at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), led by Prof. Dr. Xenia Kobeleva.

Postdoctoral associate (m/w/d) in the Computational Neurology Group

The Computational Neurology group at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), led by Prof. Dr. Xenia Kobeleva, investigates clinically relevant questions in neuropsychiatry and neurodegenerative diseases using advanced computational approaches, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and brain modeling. The group is situated in the Institute for Neural Computation and is part of the Bernstein Node Bochum of the Science Hub Neuroscience. Our group works at the interface of clinical neuroscience (neurostimulation and neurodegenerative diseases) and computational neuroscience (whole-brain network neural modeling, parameter inference, control theory), with a strong focus on translational research that connects computational methods to real-world clinical data and patient-oriented questions. Our team is young, motivated, international, and genuinely interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise from medicine, neuroscience, psychology, and quantitative sciences. Besides a direct connection to clinical neurology, we are intensively collaborating with world‑leading experts for mathematics and computer science.

Scope: full-time. Duration: fixed‑term, two years. Start: Between 01.08. and (to be discussed). Apply by: .

Your tasks:

• Developing hybrid NeuroAI models at the interface of artificial neural networks and differential‑equation‑based models.
• Presenting results in national and international conferences and publishing in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Supervision of junior team members.
• Writing grant proposals.

Your profile:

• You are genuinely curious and interested in exploring how the brain works and what can be done to fix it in case of disorders. You can solve problems in a creative way and like to define research gaps by looking across applied and theoretical research. You have experience in interaction both with experimental and theoretical scientists, evidenced by interdisciplinary publications.
• You have a PhD (awarded in 2023 or later) with a quantitative background (such as computational neuroscience, computer science, physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, or similar) with prior experience in neural networks (either based on PDE or ANN or ideally both), and you are expert in Python programming.
• Ideally, you are experienced in dynamical systems, and preprocessing and analyzing macroscale neuroimaging data.
• You have a strong interest in neuroscientific methods as well as in elaborating potential diagnostic and treatment options for neuropsychiatric disorders.
• You demonstrate good communication, organizational and teamwork skills.

We offer:

• An inspiring research environment with strong clinical and interdisciplinary connections at the Institute for Neural Computation and Science Hub Neuroscience, fostering independent scientific thinking while providing continuous academic and career support, regular seminars with other members of the institute, and a yearly retreat.
• Employment according to German public sector standards (TV‑L), including social security benefits, paid leave, and a stable framework that enables focused, high‑quality doctoral research.
• A family‑friendly working environment that actively supports the reconciliation of academic work and family life, including flexible working arrangements and institutional support structures in line with RUB’s commitment to equal opportunity and diversity. We actively work against scientific misconduct by fostering an open environment and a focus on reproducible science.

Further information:

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV‑L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E13 TV‑L.

Further information can be found at (in German).

The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.

If the position is funded by third‑party funds the employee has no teaching obligation.

Please send your application documents (including cover letter, a CV, list of publications, and contact emails of two references) as a single PDF file.

RUB provides free courses for employees. German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF).

The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact

Contact persons for further information:

Sven Liebthal, Tel.: ,

Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.

We look forward to receiving your application via our online application portal by . Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 5657.

Online application

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.