Biophysics PhD: X-Ray Phase-Contrast Tomography for 3D Biomedical Imaging

Biophysics PhD: X-Ray Phase-Contrast Tomography for 3D Biomedical Imaging

Quick Decision

Strong but verify fit. The University of Göttingen is recruiting two paid PhD researchers for 3D biomedical imaging with X-ray phase-contrast tomography. The advertised term is three years at TV-L E13/75%, with an application deadline of 30 November 2026. The scientific question sits at a useful interface between X-ray physics, image reconstruction and biomedical research, and the host group has a sustained record in that area. The main limitation is that the two posts are not differentiated in the public description: the eventual work package is to be agreed in interview and depends on the candidate’s profile and project needs. The University application portal is the stated application route; confirm the current workflow before applying.

The opportunity is best aligned with a physics or closely related Master’s graduate who can show a strength in at least one of computational imaging, X-ray optics/physics, instrumentation, or biomedical image analysis, and who is comfortable collaborating across disciplines. Before investing in a tailored application, ask which direction and project partner correspond to each post, and confirm the required document format, start date and current salary details.

Research Problem and Doctoral Work

What Is Unsolved and Why It Matters

The project targets a familiar gap in biological imaging: soft tissues can be weakly absorbing in conventional X-ray imaging, while two-dimensional sections discard spatial relationships across a full specimen. Phase-contrast tomography aims to recover three-dimensional structure by using changes in the X-ray wave as an imaging signal. The group frames the broader challenge as extracting useful structural information from limited signal while extending coherent imaging between synchrotron facilities and advanced laboratory sources. These are research aims, not a promise of routine clinical diagnosis. The group’s research overview and its research themes place phase retrieval, reconstruction and biomedical applications within that wider program.

The advertised opening uses partially coherent X-ray radiation at both synchrotron and laboratory micro-CT sources. The work may lean toward algorithm and phase-retrieval design, X-ray optical physics, instrumentation, sample-preparation research, or application benchmarks with medical partners. These directions are alternatives within an open brief; the listing does not say how they divide across the two posts.

Advertised direction	Applicant-facing interpretation	Evidence that helps demonstrate fit
Algorithms and phase retrieval	Connect measured phase-sensitive information to a defensible 3D reconstruction.	Numerical methods, image analysis, inverse problems or quantitative physics.
X-ray optical physics or instrumentation	Study how source and imaging physics shape the information available for a biomedical question.	X-ray, optics, measurement or laboratory experience; the advert treats this as preferred, not required.
Application benchmarks with medical partners	Test whether volumetric imaging adds useful structural context to a biomedical question.	Relevant biology/medicine exposure, quantitative analysis, or experience working across disciplines.
Sample-preparation research	Consider how specimen state affects the scientific interpretability of imaging.	A demonstrated ability to reason about biological constraints; specific protocols are not stated.

The table describes possible fit lanes, not assigned work packages. The project description says the exact focus and plan will be set through interview discussion, candidate interests and aptitude, collaborative needs, and third-party funding. Applicants should present a preferred lane while remaining open to a jointly defined project.

Recent Work That Helps Interpret the Opportunity

Recent studies show how the host’s imaging research connects to biological questions. A 2023 human-lung study examined multi-scale phase-contrast tomography in both synchrotron and laboratory contexts, illustrating the source-translation theme without establishing a clinical service or a guaranteed project sample (Reichmann et al., 2023). A 2023 collaboration on human pancreatic tissue explored whether three-dimensional phase-contrast views can expose diagnostically relevant structure (Pinkert-Leetsch et al., 2023). A 2024 study considered volumetric changes in the enteric nervous system, an example of how an imaging measure can be tied to a physiological or pathological question (Peruzzi et al., 2024).

More recent work broadens the application range: a 2025 article applies the approach to human heart-forming organoids (Komorowski et al., 2025), and a 2025 article-date study addresses neuronal inclusions in human neurodegeneration tissue (Franz et al., 2025). A 2024 collaboration on cell biophysics also shows how tomography can be paired with a question from another field (Burchert et al., 2024). These papers provide examples for an interview conversation, not evidence that either new position will use the same tissue, collaborator or method.

The field is still negotiating trade-offs among source coherence, 3D coverage, resolution, information quality and practical access. A recent review of soft-tissue X-ray imaging summarizes that broader landscape (Journal of Cell Science review, 2024); independent primary research has also tested laboratory phase-contrast imaging against synchrotron data (Physical Review Research, 2025). The practical research opportunity is credible, but performance and biomedical usefulness must be established for each application.

School, Programme and Field Context

The employer and intended doctoral institution are both the University of Göttingen; the host unit is its Institute for X-Ray Physics in the Faculty of Physics. The Physics doctoral route is organized within GAUSS and explicitly covers both biophysics and X-ray physics. The programme lists the degree options Dr. rer. nat. or Ph.D., German and English as programme languages, a standard period of six semesters, and 30 credits across research, writing, communication, teaching and other training. The current programme admission page sets formal academic and language requirements. In particular, applicants whose first language is neither German nor English need C1 English evidence or a Master’s degree taught in English or German; confirm how this rule applies to your case.

The advertised three-year employment period aligns with six semesters, but employment and doctoral admission are separate. The Faculty of Physics requires relevant academic preparation, written acceptance by an authorized supervisor and a thesis committee. GAUSS requires a separate application and supervision agreement, normally within three months after starting and preferably earlier, plus mandatory university enrollment for the full doctorate. The GAUSS application guidance explains the process and states that semester fees apply. No joint degree or external degree-awarding partner is identified in the available evidence.

For an institution-level subject signal, Göttingen reports a 78th worldwide and sixth in Germany result in the THE World University Rankings 2026 Physical Sciences category (University ranking announcement). That category includes several fields in addition to physics; it is not a physics-only or laboratory ranking. The more relevant opportunity-specific signal is the close match between the position and the Institute’s published research themes.

Supervisor and Lab Assessment

Professor Tim Salditt is a Professor of Experimental Physics and has led the Institute for X-Ray Physics since 2002. His university profile lists structural biophysics, X-ray optics and imaging, phase-contrast tomography and biomedical imaging among his research interests (Salditt profile). The group describes research from molecular systems to cells, tissues and organs, with work on coherent imaging and reconstruction. Its research page also describes collaboration with neuroscience, cardiovascular and clinical teams, as well as an in-house nano-imaging endstation at DESY/PETRA III (group research page). These sources support a strong topic fit and access to a relevant network; they do not specify which resources a particular PhD student will use.

The public pages do not identify the day-to-day supervisor for either opening, the expected supervisory cadence, group size, facility access arrangements, project-specific training, or how the two positions map onto current projects. Ask directly about these points. The group-page record dated 3 November 2026 lists tsaldit@gwdg.de, while the vacancy information gives a different supervisor email; use the group’s general contact roentgenphysik@gwdg.de or its listed telephone number (+49 551 39 25556) to confirm the right address before sending a scientific enquiry.

Funding, Application, and Living Cost

The vacancy information describes two salaried positions at TV-L E13, 75%, for three years. The exact salary step and gross monthly amount are not stated in the application-portal record dated 1 November 2026, and net pay depends on personal tax and social-insurance circumstances. Göttingen estimates living costs at €800–€1,000 per month (University cost guide). Doctoral enrollment is mandatory; the University lists a €484.18 semester contribution for winter semester 2026/27 (semester fees). These figures help frame a budget, but they do not settle take-home pay, housing availability, relocation costs or a personal monthly surplus. Request a current salary estimate and ask what research, travel or relocation costs are funded separately.

The stated deadline is 30 November 2026; the time and time zone are not stated. The vacancy asks for a motivation letter, CV and certificates and describes a single PDF. The official portal is recorded as of 1 November 2026 with a multi-step form and PDF document fields. Follow the live portal’s instructions and confirm whether documents should be combined or uploaded separately; keep time for account authentication after submission. The portal’s scientific fit fields repeat the requirement for a very good relevant Master’s and interdisciplinary motivation, while X-ray/medical physics, numerical skills and laboratory experience are described as helpful rather than expected at entry.

Applicant Fit and Preparation

Required Background and Skills

• A very good Master’s degree or equivalent in physics or a closely related field.
• High potential and motivation for interdisciplinary research.
• Formal doctoral eligibility through the relevant Physics/GAUSS route, including degree equivalence where applicable.

Preferred Experience and Suggested Preparation

Experience in X-ray or medical physics, computational and numerical work, or laboratory instrumentation and experiments is appreciated but is not expected at the start. An applicant with one strong lane can still be credible if the motivation letter explains how that expertise could contribute to the broader imaging problem. The vacancy does not provide a numeric grade cutoff or specify a required German level for employment.

For preparation, select one recent paper that connects with your experience and be ready to discuss its scientific question, what the imaging adds, and what remains uncertain. Bring a concrete example of quantitative or interdisciplinary work. Avoid pitching a detailed fixed work plan before learning which post, partner and funding need the group intends to match.

Career Context

The German Federal Employment Agency’s 2025 statistics report about 44,000 people with physics degrees in physics-designated occupations, a 3.3% subject-specific unemployment rate among highly qualified physicist jobseekers, and an average of roughly 200 advertised roles explicitly targeting physicists. The agency also notes that many physics graduates work in other occupational groups, so explicit job counts understate the broader range of physics skills in use (labour-market report). Its occupational profile includes research, teaching, development, planning and technical roles (BERUFENET physicist profile). This supports the portability of a mixed physics/computation/imaging skill set, but says nothing definitive about demand for this specific specialization or an individual outcome.

Next Actions and Questions to Verify

Before Applying

1. Open the live application portal and confirm that position 76735 remains active, the 30 November deadline and time zone, and the current required documents.
2. Ask which research direction and medical partner correspond to each of the two posts, and whether candidates may state a preference.
3. Confirm the correct scientific contact email and whether German is expected for the role or only useful locally.
4. Check your degree’s equivalence and the Physics/GAUSS English-language requirement; keep certificates and transcripts ready.
5. Confirm whether the motivation letter, CV and certificates must be one merged PDF or separate portal uploads.

At Interview

1. Ask who would supervise each position day to day and how the thesis advisory committee, feedback and training are arranged.
2. Ask what scientific benchmark defines success, which collaborators are involved, and how much independence or cross-group work is expected.
3. Ask what local and external facility access, computational support, travel budget and publication expectations apply to the selected project.

Before Accepting an Offer

1. Confirm the start and end dates, TV-L salary step, gross pay, likely net estimate, benefits and contract conditions.
2. Confirm doctoral programme and degree route, admission timeline, credit requirements, enrollment and semester-fee obligations.
3. Clarify the project’s funding duration and any expected costs not covered by employment.

Evidence and Sources

Institution, doctoral route and application

• University application portal, position 76735
• Doctoral Studies in Physics
• Physics doctoral programme structure and admission
• Faculty of Physics: becoming a PhD student
• GAUSS application and admission
• THE World University Rankings 2026 subject results
• Göttingen cost-of-living guide
• Semester fees, winter semester 2026/27

Supervisor, group and recent papers

• Salditt Group
• Salditt Group research themes
• Tim Salditt profile
• Human lung virtual histology (2023)
• Human pancreatic tissue imaging (2023)
• Enteric nervous-system tomography (2024)
• Cell biophysics and phase-contrast tomography (2024)
• Heart-forming organoids (2025)
• Neurodegeneration tissue imaging (2025 article date)

Field and career context

• Soft-tissue X-ray imaging review (2024)
• Laboratory-based phase-contrast microscopy (2025)
• Federal Employment Agency: natural-science labor market
• BERUFENET physicist profile