Team Leader - AI Engineering & Automation

About the role

EMBL AI is EMBL's ambitious new initiative aiming to exploit the full potential of AI-based approaches to advance scientific discovery. EMBL AI will host new AI research groups and data engineering teams, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure, along with fellowship and skills development programmes that bridge AI and life sciences. Incoming EMBL AI groups will be embedded in a world-class environment of biological researchers covering a broad range of biological areas, from molecules to ecosystems. EMBL has already established itself as a global leader in AI-driven innovation in biology research, with successes in areas including genomics, structural biology (e.g., AlphaFold), biomarker discovery, and imaging. EMBL hosts the world's largest repository of biological data, the European Bioinformatics Institute ( EMBL-EBI ), and has excellent pan-institutional data management, data science and open science infrastructures. Our goal is to build a dynamic community of AI specialists working alongside life science researchers, together creating innovative AI-based methods to address fundamental questions in biology and drive scientific breakthroughs. Discover more on our web page and explore our current research groups. Scientific context and strategic fit EMBL's long-term scientific direction, Molecules to Ecosystems , aims to advance our understanding of ecosystems at the molecular level, applying expertise in molecular biology to study life in its natural context. Research areas include applying experimental, computational and theoretical approaches to study how cells and organisms interact with each other and respond to fluctuating environments. EMBL has a track record in establishing landmark data resources in these different areas ( EMBL-EBI ), leads in managing digital infrastructures, and operates a dedicated Data Science Center for handling complex primary biological data types across the institute. We are interested in hosting scientists who are keen to bring their AI expertise to EMBL, collaboratively developing AI-based solutions to scientific questions with the life science community. These research efforts should support the creation of new services to make AI-based methods accessible to scientists across EMBL. Your expertise might cover areas such as: machine learning foundations, generative modeling, deep learning, large language models, representation learning, Bayesian or causal inference, active or transfer learning. Proposals with a strong technology development focus are encouraged. Incoming teams will be able to collaborate with scientists across EMBL's scientific units , sites and cross-cutting research topics , and have access to unique biodata, biotechnologies, and a wide range of expertise in biological research. A close interaction with EMBL's Data Science center is foreseen. Your role As a Team Leader, you will: Lead a team of AI engineers and scientists at EMBL AI's Heidelberg Hub, operating AI services. Develop, manage, and maintain freely available AI services provided by the team, ensuring these tools remain state-of-the-art and responsive to the evolving needs of the EMBL scientific community and beyond. This may include: Data architecture and infrastructures tailored for AI workflows AI-driven solutions for laboratory automation AI-based reasoning systems for biology Training and consultancy Co-develop major AI projects in collaboration with scientists across EMBL's six sites. Actively engage with other EMBL Group/ Team Leaders to coordinate training, mentoring, and the growth of AI expertise across the Laboratory. Manage efficient use of resources, to synergize with other EMBL teams and facilities, and to identify and promote collaboration and early-stage access with industrial partners, and create opportunities for new service provisions in a rapidly changing technology landscape. You will also have the opportunity to: Pursue independent research interests to develop methods and technologies in AI-related areas, which, once established, can be transferred to enhance its range of service offerings. Your profile You have an excellent research and/or service track record in AI, a PhD in a relevant field, an interest in its applications to biology. You have a well-defined strategy for operating the service and, if conducting your own research, for integrating it with the service. Previous experience in biology is not required, but a strong

Benefits

Additional Information

Do you want to be part of EMBL's newly created AI Hub, using AI to solve complex interdisciplinary challenges? We're seeking a visionary scientist to establish and lead a new AI Engineering & Automation Team at the AI Hub Heidelberg as part of EMBL AI, a major institutional initiative to embed AI across all areas of life sciences. This role offers a unique opportunity to build AI infrastructure, services, and applications that will drive transformative research across EMBL and the global scientific community.

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at embl? Share your experience