Innovation Unit Specialist – Focus Area Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (f/m/d, full-time)

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: Yes

Offer Description

ENABLE NEW DISCOVERIES.

The Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities (VBCF) provide cutting-edge research infrastructure and expertise that form the foundation of groundbreaking discoveries at the Vienna BioCenter (VBC), home to multiple research institutes (including IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs, AITHYRA, University of Vienna), companies, and around 2.000 scientists. Situated at the VBC campus, the VBCF GmbH provides scientific services for research on campus and beyond, supported by the extensive expertise of over 80 trained scientists and technicians. The VBCF is searching for an:

Innovation Unit Specialist – Focus Area Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (f/m/d, full-time)

The Innovation Unit Specialist will drive innovation across core facilities and engage with diverse stakeholders. The role operates independently of any single facility or discipline, with flexibility to pursue projects as needed. Innovation projects range from short-term to long-term, from single-facility to multi-facility, and from incremental to disruptive. Each project aims to develop new methods/technologies that can transfer to scientific services and improve scientific output for VBC campus researchers and beyond. Candidates should have multidisciplinary backgrounds in lab Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in life sciences.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and execute innovation projects based on core facility proposals; assume ownership and accountability
• Lead and manage projects and respective project teams across the matrix; report on project progress; ensure performance meets targets for time, quality, and budget
• Ensure data governance and quality: Establish data governance and FAIR standards, including metadata, naming conventions, and access controls, to ensure long-term data integrity and compliance
• Manage scientific and operational data: Define and develop the end-to-end data lifecycle for multi-facility and instrument data, ensuring all scientific and operational datasets are clean, validated, and ready for high-level analysis
• Build and maintain data pipelines: Develop automated pipelines (ETL/ELT) to integrate diverse sources-including ELNs, LIMS, and external databases into scalable storage solutions and unified data models
• Identify and evaluate AI use cases together with the VBCF management and core facilities
• Translate innovation projects into service offerings of Core Facilities
• Interface with stakeholders including project members, users, core facilities, and evaluators

Key requirements

• Advanced degree in natural sciences or computer sciences (PhD preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in data science, laboratory data management, AI, and process integration, preferably in a life sciences environment
• Proven track record in implementing innovation
• Experience leading and managing projects within multidisciplinary teams
• Strong interest in developing, refining, and benchmarking protocols and AI workflows
• Broad understanding of scientific disciplines relevant to VBCF core facilities; ability to work across scientific disciplines
• Knowledge and firsthand experience in one or more areas (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics molecular biology or robotic automation) is an advantage
• Collaborative and adaptive mindset
• Excellent English; German advantageous

Your benefits

Ranked among the world’s most liveable cities, Vienna offers an inspiring environment for scientists with its world-class research, vibrant international community, rich cultural heritage, and high quality of life. We offer a fixed-term contract for an initial 2 years, with the possibility of extension, and an attractive compensation package, including subsidized access to our company crèche and kindergarten, the annual pass of the “Wiener Linien”, the VBC social & sports program, the annual inflation compensation of the salary, and flexible working hours. The actual remuneration will depend on your scientific expertise and professional experience.

The minimum salary for this position is €4,500 Brutto per month, paid 14 times per year, with the possibility of overpayment based on qualifications and experience.

How to apply

Please send your cover letter, CV, and contact information of three referees as PDFs to apply@vbcf.ac.at and include “IUS lab Data/AI” as the email subject. This call is open until August 31st 2026. Interviews will be held as soon as possible. For further information about the position, please contact owen.williams@vbcf.ac.at

Where to apply

E-mail: apply@vbcf.ac.at

Requirements

Research Field: Computer science

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field: Biological sciences

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Excellent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities GmbH

Country: Austria

Contact

City: Vienna

Website: https://www.viennabiocenter.org/vbcf/

Street: Dr.-Bohr-Gasse 3

Postal Code: 1030

E-Mail: apply@vbcf.ac.at