The Faculty of Science, the Mathematical Institute, and the Institute of Biology are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Science or Mathematical Biology (1.0 FTE for three years). This position is part of the EU project PhotoMel, which aims to decode early-life UVA and skincare additive interactions that drive melanoma risk and progression in young adults. Your primary responsibility will be to develop a three-dimensional (3D) model of melanoma cell migration in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) to analyze how UV and chemical-induced ECM changes influence melanoma cell behavior.

The Role

You will work closely with the PhotoMel consortium to:

• Develop innovative 3D simulation techniques for modeling the mechanochemical regulation of melanoma cell migration.
• Integrate these techniques into existing frameworks such as the Tissue Simulation Toolkit, Morpheus, or CompuCell3D.
• Design simulation experiments to analyze ECM modifications due to UV exposure and skincare additives.
• Gain insights into the effects of these factors on melanoma progression through simulations and literature reviews.
• Collaborate with a PhD student to extend existing 2D cell migration models to 3D and validate against experimental data.
• Publish research findings in scientific journals.

Requirements

• PhD in applied mathematics, computational/theoretical physics, theoretical biology, computer science, or a related field.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English, with strong scientific writing skills.
• Ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Excellent communication skills to engage with scientists in cell biology and mathematics.
• Interest in cancer biology and cell development.
• Experience in numerical mathematical modeling (e.g., Cellular Potts modeling, PDEs).
• Proficiency in scientific programming using C++, Cuda, and/or Python.

What We Offer

• A three-year employment contract under the CLA of Dutch Universities.
• A monthly salary between €3546 and €5538 (Scale 10).
• Additional benefits including holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, and full reimbursement of commuting costs.
• Flexible working hours with a minimum of 29 leave days for full-time work.
• Options for secondary employment benefits, home-working allowance, and a provided laptop.

Application Process

To apply, please submit the following documents:

• A letter of motivation
• An updated CV
• A copy of your PhD thesis or publication list
• Contact details of 1 or 2 former supervisors
• Examples of previously written code

Applications submitted before July 15th, 2026, will receive full consideration, with a flexible starting date in Fall 2026. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Roeland Merks at merksrmh@math.leidenuniv.nl.