Postdoctoral Researcher - Agentic Correlative Image Analysis for BlueMaterials

Work group:

Institute of Metallic Biomaterials

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Starting date:

26.08.2026

Job description: Postdoctoral Researcher ? Agentic Correlative Image Analysis for BlueMaterials
JobID: 1058 ? 2026/MB 3
Location: Rostock
Application deadline: 23 September, 2026

Join the Cluster of Excellence "BlueMat: Water-Driven Materials" ( and collaborate with a dynamic, interdisciplinary team that combines science, sustainability, and technology to create a better future. Help shape the next generation of sustainable materials inspired by nature's most powerful resource: water.

For the Institute of Metallic Biomaterials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon for as soon as possible, we are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher ? Agentic Correlative Image Analysis for BlueMaterials. In principle, the full time position (39 h/?week) is also sharable. The position is fixed-term until 31 August 2029 and located in Rostock.

Equal opportunity is an important part of our personnel policy. We would therefore strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the position.

The BlueMat project 'Agentic correlative image analysis for BlueMaterials', bridges the different imaging and characterization techniques developed within the cross-area imaging and gives support to all researchers in the cluster of excellence to retrieve the highest quality information from image data. The project focusses on implementing an agentic framework for automation of correlative imaging and the corresponding image analysis in particular. By implementing LLM?driven agents that plan the analysis workflow, call established image-analysis modules and judge their own output, you will streamline image processing efforts and enable the elucidation of specific mechanisms of water-material interactions.

Your tasks
-design and implement the agentic framework including task planning, tool use and function calling, and self-evaluation loops that orchestrate existing image-analysis modules
-build a natural-language interface so BlueMat researchers can run correlative analyses without writing code
-automate including image registration and enabling automated extraction of morphological features (e.g., porosity, tortuosity, connectivity) and fluid flow characteristics from 2D and 3D images resulting from magnetic resonance, X?ray and electron images
-integration of motion analysis and digital volume correlation
-processing of images in preparation for image-based modelling
-individual support for researchers across BlueMat in solving image analysis challenges, especially segmentation and quantitative extraction

Your profile
-PhD in computer science, physics, materials science, applied mathematics or a related field
-experience in building LLM-based agent systems
-strong background in image processing and analysis, including deep learning
-experience with correlative imaging workflows and 2D/3D registration techniques
-strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++
-ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment
-excellent communication skills in English
-proven project management skills are highly desirable
-willingness to travel regularly between Rostock and Hamburg (DESY)

Content-related enquiries regarding this position can be directed to Prof. Dr. Berit Zeller-Plumhoff ([email protected]).

Our offer
-an exciting and varied job in a research center with around 1,000 employees from more than 60 nations
-International Welcome Office with guest accommodation
-6 weeks holiday per year; company holidays between Christmas and New Year's Day
-social benefits according to the collective agreement of the public service and remuneration up to EG 13 (according to EntgO Bund)
-very good work-life balance; options for mobile and flexible work
-a well-connected research campus (public transport) and best networking opportunities, subsidy for the Deutschlandticket if certain conditions are met (job ticket)
-individual opportunities for further training
-an excellent technical infrastructure and modern workplace equipment
-Operational Health Management, e.g. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
-Corporate Benefits

Interested?
Then we are looking forward to receiving your comprehensive application documents (cover letter, CV, transcripts, certificates, etc.) indicating the reference number 2026/MB 3 until 23 September, 2026.

Apply now!

Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany