Postdoctoral Research Associate Position (m/f/d) - Surgical AI

This position is part of a 5-year research program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) that aims to develop generalizable, clinically relevant AI approaches for surgical video analysis, working with one of the world's largest prospective surgical video registries. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will contribute to evaluating and optimizing the real-world performance of state-of-the-art AI models for surgical video understanding.

The position is embedded in an interdisciplinary and international research environment within the “Surgical Artificial Intelligence” research group led by Dr. Fiona Kolbinger, which is jointly affiliated with the Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery and the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health at TU Dresden. The group works at the intersection of AI development, clinical surgery, and translational research, with the goal of developing and clinically evaluating AI tools that improve surgical care.

• Design and lead research projects on AI for surgical video understanding, including vision-language model benchmarking and optimization, clinical translation (early-stage clinical feasibility studies and randomized controlled trials), and human-AI interaction in surgery
• Collaborate with national and international partners
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate student researchers within the group
• Prepare journal publications and presentations at national and international conferences
• Contribute to grant writing and scientific dissemination

• Doctoral degree in computer science, biomedical engineering, electrical/computer engineering, software engineering, or a related field
• Strong background in computer science, electrical engineering, software engineering, data science, computer vision, LLMs/VLMs, human-AI interaction, and/or a strong interest in clinical surgery, interdisciplinary oncology, and translational research
• Ability to time-manage and lead research projects independently, ability to mentor junior researchers, ability to identify and communicate the need for support
• Collaborative and curious mindset with an interest in clinical or translational applications at the intersection of disciplines, in particular clinical surgery/surgical oncology and data science/AI
• Excellent English communication skills, willingness to learn/knowledge of German is a plus

at the Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery and the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health

The position is to be filled from October 1, 2026 on a full- or part-time basis, initially limited to 24 months, with the option of extension and longer-term collaboration. Compensation is based on the pay scale for the public sector (TV-L) and may be classified in pay grade E13, provided you meets the personal qualifications.

• An excellent interdisciplinary research environment with direct access to clinical data and expertise
• The opportunity to be part of a young, ambitious, growing team of interdisciplinary researchers
• Scientific flexibility through innovative, externally funded projects spanning all areas of translational surgical AI and human-AI interaction
• Career development opportunities and mentoring, regular conference attendance, publication opportunities, national and international collaborations
• Working from home is generally possible in coordination with the respective department; however, it is limited to a defined portion of the regular working time
• Compensation: Based on the TV-L collective bargaining agreement in pay grade E13, plus an annual bonus, provided you meet the personal requirements
• Vacation: 30 days of paid vacation
• Professional Development: Extensive internal and external training and development opportunities to continuously strengthen your skills
• Company Culture: We value transparency, team spirit, and shared success. Celebrate with us at company gatherings or sporting events like the Rewe Team Challenge
• Mobility: A subsidy for a job ticket to make your commute eco-friendly and convenient
• Health: We promote your well-being with modern fitness and exercise programs at our health center, mental health programs, and a comprehensive workplace health management program
• Shopping benefits: Take advantage of employee discounts at our clinic pharmacy, exclusive corporate benefits, and other shopping portals
• Work-life balance: Our Family Office supports you with questions regarding daycare spots, vacation programs, and caring for family members. We also offer flexible work arrangements

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