Team Lead Position for Data Curation at Helmholtz Imaging

About the role

The Team Lead for Data Curation will co-develop and implement a unified data curation framework and coordinate local and cross-site activities within a distributed cross-center structure. The role supports researchers and Helmholtz Imaging (HI) support teams by providing structured guidance, tools, and workflows for high-quality, reproducible, and AI-ready imaging datasets.

Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated support and research team, managing data curation support activities across HI.
• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of machine learning and image analysis experts.
• Coordinate Data Curation Unit (DCU) activities across partner sites and align them with HI strategy.
• Co-develop and implement a holistic data curation framework with DCU members at partner sites (MDC, DESY, UFZ).
• Oversee and support the team with tasks such as:
  • Development of structured workflows for image data formation, quality assessment, and annotation management.
  • Systematic investigation and formalization of repetitive and undocumented data curation practices.
  • Development and recommendation of tools for data annotation, metadata structuring, and quality control.
  • Supporting researchers in adapting heterogeneous datasets into a unified internal curation framework.
  • Designing feedback mechanisms between data curation and downstream image analysis (including AI-based pipelines).
  • Providing training formats, guidelines, and consultation for researchers across experience levels and data scales.
  • Promoting open science, software sustainability, and knowledge sharing.
• Work closely with HI and DKFZ leadership and other support units to ensure data curation practices are coherent, scalable, and aligned with institutional goals.

Requirements

• PhD in computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related discipline.
• Strong expertise in image analysis and/or machine learning, with a deep understanding of how data characteristics impact downstream AI performance.
• Demonstrated experience in handling and curating complex imaging datasets.
• Experience in developing structured workflows and standards.
• Proven leadership experience, including mentoring and coordination of interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent record in open-source software development and experience in collaborative software development practices (e.g., version control, code review, continuous integration).
• Proven track record of interdisciplinary and (inter)national collaboration, as well as strong willingness to collaborate across the Helmholtz Association and with other HI groups at DKFZ.
• Exceptionally collaborative and open-science work ethos.

Prior experience in annotation management, large-scale or heterogeneous imaging data, and interest in standardization and research infrastructure development are highly desirable.

What makes this position special

• A leadership role within a dynamic, highly collaborative scientific environment.
• The opportunity to work at the forefront of AI, contributing to real-world research challenges.
• Close integration with leading imaging and machine learning initiatives through HI.
• Access to cutting-edge infrastructure and computing resources.