Research Position Phd Position M F D

Research Position (PhD Position) (m/f/d)

ID: Wiss26203

Starting: as soon as possible

Employment type: part-time 65 %, fixed-term

Salary: according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L

About the Position

The Faculty of Physics has the following job opening in the area of Biomedical Optics and Imaging. The successful candidate will join the Medical Physics and Computational Optical Imaging Group of Prof. Dierck Hillmann. Our research focuses on the development of novel optical imaging technologies for biomedical applications, with a particular emphasis on retinal imaging. By combining innovative optical instrumentation with computational image reconstruction and quantitative image analysis, we aim to push the limits of what can be measured in the living human eye and to establish new imaging approaches for basic research and clinical applications.

This PhD project focuses on the development and evaluation of experimental retinal imaging methods based on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and related optical imaging techniques. The long-term vision is to enable the observation of neuronal structure and function in the living human retina and thereby establish new tools for ophthalmic and neurological research.

The project combines experimental optical physics, optical system development, and quantitative image analysis/reconstruction. The successful candidate will contribute to the design, implementation, and characterization of a novel imaging system, perform experimental measurements, and develop methods for data processing and interpretation. A central task of the project will be to build and evaluate new experimental imaging approaches rather than merely applying existing systems. The project offers scientific freedom to explore independent ideas within the broader framework of retinal imaging and biomedical optics.

The project is embedded in ongoing national and international collaborations, including close interactions with researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Your Tasks

Research (approximately 97%):

• develop and implement novel optical imaging approaches for retinal imaging
• design, build, and characterize novel optical imaging systems based on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and related techniques
• perform experimental measurements on optical phantoms, ex vivo samples, and in vivo retinal imaging systems
• investigate and evaluate new methods for structural and functional retinal imaging
• develop software tools for instrument control, data acquisition and image analysis
• analyse and interpret experimental imaging data using computational methods
• contribute to scientific publications and present research results at national and international conferences
• participate in collaborations with clinical, academic and industrial partners

Administrative duties (approximately 3%)

Employment is conducive to scientific qualification and provides the opportunity for further academic development.

Your Profile

We expect:

• above-average completed relevant university degree (Master or equivalent) in Physics, Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• strong interest in experimental physics, optics, and biomedical imaging
• experience with programming and quantitative data analysis
• ability to work independently and to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams
• enthusiasm for developing and evaluating new imaging technologies
• good communication skills and good command of English, both written and spoken

Preferred experience and skills:

• knowledge of optics, wave optics, Fourier optics, interferometry or optical imaging
• experience with optical instrumentation, laboratory work, or experimental physics
• experience with scientific programming (e.g. Python)
• familiarity with image processing, computational imaging, inverse problems or machine learning
• experience with Optical Coherence Tomography, microscopy, holography, spectroscopy or related imaging techniques

We Offer

• salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
• fixed-term (3 years) (§ 2 (1) sentence 1 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
• part-time 65%
• internal and external training opportunities
• amount of health, consulting and prevention services
• reconcilability of family and working life
• flexible working hours
• supplementary company pension

Application Procedure

We are looking forward to receiving your application. To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below.

Application deadline: 16.07.2026

Contact

Prof. Dr. Dierck Hillmann
dierck.hillmann@uni-bielefeld.de

Postal Address:
Universität Bielefeld
Fakultät für Physik
Aggi Windmann
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld