Imaging Scientist

About the role

PHIO is a Munich-based life science technology company developing next-generation imaging and analysis systems for non-invasive, incubator-based live cell analysis. By combining proprietary lensfree imaging, advanced hardware, software, and AI-driven data analysis, we aim to help researchers and life science companies monitor living cells, quantify biological processes, and generate actionable insights from complex cell-based models.

The Senior AI Scientist – Computer Vision & Life Science AI will play a key role in building PHIO's AI capabilities around biological image analysis. The role combines applied AI research, computer vision, and machine learning for live cell imaging, cell morphology, organoid analysis, and multimodal biological datasets. Working with lensfree and holographic PHIO image data, reconstructed and raw image data, classical microscopy images, biological ground truth, time series, and assay metadata, you will develop AI methods that transform complex cell imaging data into robust, interpretable, and product-relevant insights. This is a highly hands-on senior role with clear technical ownership and the opportunity to help shape PHIO's future AI direction.

Key Responsibilities

• AI Strategy & Scientific Direction: Help shape PHIO's AI roadmap and identify high-impact AI opportunities in biological image analysis and multimodal life science data. Translate scientific and biological questions into robust machine learning approaches that can be validated and prepared for product development. Contribute to strategic decisions on data, models, evaluation, and future AI capabilities.
• Computer Vision & Machine Learning: Develop, train, and evaluate computer vision and machine learning models for biological and life science image analysis. Apply state-of-the-art deep learning methods using frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow. Explore multimodal AI, synthetic data, data augmentation, and robust model generalization.
• Research & Prototyping: Design reproducible ML experiments, data pipelines, and evaluation workflows. Build well-documented research prototypes suitable for validation and handover into product development. Support the transition from AI research prototypes into production-ready product features together with the software engineering team. Ensure scientific rigor while delivering practical solutions in a fast-moving startup environment.
• Collaboration & Product Transfer: Collaborate closely across biology, software, hardware, product, and leadership. Contribute to technical documentation, knowledge sharing, and selected customer or scientific collaborations.

Profile Requirements

• PhD in machine learning, computer vision, bioinformatics, computational biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field, plus at least two years of relevant postdoctoral or industry experience. Alternatively, a MSc with at least five years of highly relevant industry experience in applied machine learning, computer vision, biological image analysis, or AI for the life sciences.
• Core expertise in image-based ML: extensive hands-on experience in computer vision with complex image datasets, preferably in biological, biomedical, or scientific domains.
• Excellent Python skills and hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Ability to independently formulate scientific questions and translate them into practical, testable machine learning solutions.
• Experience taking technical ownership in AI or computer vision projects, such as structuring experiments, setting evaluation criteria, reviewing model approaches, or coordinating cross-functional work across AI, software, biology, and product.

Personal Profile

• Strong hands-on mindset with the motivation to work directly with data, code, models, and experiments.
• Structured, pragmatic, and scientifically rigorous working style with a focus on robust, well-documented prototypes.
• Comfortable working with ambiguous biological questions, incomplete datasets, and evolving priorities in a startup environment.
• Strong communicator who can work effectively across AI, biology, software engineering, product, and leadership.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to grow with PHIO's AI activities and help shape future AI capabilities, standards, and team structures.
• The opportunity to help build AI methods for non-invasive, incubator-based live cell analysis from an early stage.
• Access to unique biological image data, including PHIO lensfree and holographic imaging data, live-cell time series, organoid models, microscopy images, and multimodal assay datasets.
• A highly interdisciplinary environment across AI, biology, software engineering, hardware, product, and leadership.
• Room to take technical ownership and turn applied AI research into robust, product-relevant prototypes.
• A full-time role preferably based in the Munich / Planegg / Martinsried area, with hybrid flexibility depending on fit and project needs.

Apply Now

Your current CV (highlighting relevant projects and your technical impact). Evidence of relevant work, such as a GitHub link, Google Scholar profile, portfolio, publication list, or a short summary of a project you are particularly proud of. No formal cover letter required. Instead, tell us in 2 – 3 sentences what excites you most about bringing AI to live cell imaging at PHIO. We value your time and look forward to your application at team@phio.de