University Assistant (post-doc)

Institute for Medical Biochemistry,
40 hours/week,
financed by third parties, starting as soon as possible, limited to 2 years

Your scope of tasks

You will support us in developing new concepts and case studies for the use of non-animal data (in vitro and computational) for toxicology and regulation. Our goal is to transform regulatory practice, guidance and ultimately legislation towards an animal-testing-free system. You may support us with your expertise in biochemistry, cell biology, toxicology, data analysis or modelling. Regulatory toxicology is the main scientific background of the group lead and unless you would bring this with you, we are happy to train you on this aspect.

Your tasks

Within our European projects, we are leading Work Packages (WPs) for the regulatory-science interface:

https://chiasma-project.eu/

https://insight-project.org/

In addition, we are leading the DNT-RAP4 project of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and two WPs in the EU PARC project and we are contributing to several OECD and EFSA Working groups.

Our tasks involve collaboration with various specialized scientific groups in order to co-design their scientific work for toxicological non-animal methods development, validation and data integration, such that the output may become acceptable for regulators and change the landscape of regulatory practice, guidance and ultimately legislation. We are also conducting systematic literature research including systematic data collection, data qualification and data integration for regulatory applications. Importantly our work includes a focus on developing a practical, transparent and accountable uncertainty characterization for hazard and risk assessments in order to support regulatory decision-making based on novel data. It is one of our main activities to present and discuss novel methodology and case studies in OECD working groups and we organize the scientific content of workshops with all relevant stakeholders. We work fully computer based and do not carry out any experimental or other laboratory work.

We also engage with teaching activities at Medical University Innsbruck related to our field of work and the MUI Animal Free Research Cluster activities.

We are small, growing team of regulatory scientists within the Institute for Medical Biochemistry at the Medical University of Innsbruck currently consisting of one group lead and two post doc colleagues with complementary expertise. Beyond conducting our specific projects, you may support us with the writing of new grant applications to evolve this new field as a bridge between science and regulation of chemicals.

Required

completed relevant PhD or doctoral studies

Desired

background in biochemistry, cell biology, toxicology, human data, data analysis or modelling
affinity to desktop based work, including systematic literature reviews
interest in fostering the use of non-animal methods
interest in work at the regulatory-science interface
creativity for “out-of-the-box” thinking
good communication skills (incl. written reporting, scientific presentation) to interact with all stakeholders, i.e. federal regulators, academia, industry, NGOs, policy-makers
basic understanding of present regulatory toxicology concepts
basic understanding of Adverse Outcome Pathways, Non-Animal-Methods, Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment, Safe and Sustainable by Design frameworks as the newly evolving concepts for regulatory science
able and willing to work independently in the context of the research project and to collaborate with different European partners
result and solution-oriented working
precise, enterprising and stress resistant
excellent knowledge of English

What you may expect

Located in the centre of Tyrol, we offer excellent conditions at an attractive location, a value-oriented working environment, exciting and varied activities, the opportunity for professional and personal development as well as numerous (voluntary) additional company benefits.

- independent work with international project partners in a large European project in a currently dynamically developing, socially highly relevant scientific field of work
- collaboration in a small, growing team of scientists for the interface between science and regulation, as well as the opportunity to further develop this new field as a bridge between science and regulation of chemicals by means of project acquisition
- participation in national and international congresses

For the intended employment group B1, GH 3, the collective agreement minimum salary is currently € 69.060,60 gross per year for 40 hours per week. This may possibly be increased through other remuneration components connected with the special features of the job. An employment relationship with less than 40 hours per week would also be possible.

Your application

Please send your application (incl. CV, letter of motivation, list of publications) digitally (as pdf files) by 23.07.2025 to: martin.paparella@i-med.ac.at, cc: ishita.virmani@i-med.ac.at

Medical University Innsbruck
Institute for Medical Biochemistry
Innrain 80, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Head of Institute: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ludger Hengst
Project manager and supervisor of MUI Regulatory Science Group: Dr. Martin Paparella, MAS(Tox), ERT
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin-Paparella

Web: https://i-med.ac.at/universitaet/index.html.en

Gleiche Chancen für Alle!

Wir bieten unseren Mitarbeiter:innen ein faires Arbeitsumfeld, in dem sie sich individuell weiterentwickeln können. Dabei setzen wir auf Diversität und Chancengleichheit, unter anderem durch eine bewusste Erhöhung des Frauenanteils in allen Berufsgruppen, insbesondere in Leitungsfunktionen. Wir fordern qualifizierte Frauen ausdrücklich zur Bewerbung auf. Um auch berufstätige Eltern zu unterstützen, bieten wir flexible Arbeitszeitmodelle und Kinderbetreuungsangebote an.