Full Professorship (W3) For ‚Clinical Epidemiology Of Early Cancer Detection’ (F/M/D)

Reference number: 2026-0034

• Heidelberg
• Full-time
• Management Board

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is one of Europe’s largest cancer research centers. “Research for a life without cancer" is the mission of our world-class scientists and all our team members.

We investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and search for new cancer prevention strategies. We develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. Every contribution counts – whether in research, administration or infrastructure. This is what makes our daily work so meaningful and exciting.

The following position is available at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg in cooperation with the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University:

We are looking for a highly distinguished physician scientist with an outstanding international reputation who is a recognized leader in clinical cancer epidemiology. The successful candidate is expected to pursue highly original and innovative research at the frontiers of risk-adapted early cancer detection and precision prevention in the role of a division head at the DKFZ. The program is expected to build on prostate cancer as a model disease with later expansion to other common tumor entities, e.g., breast, colon, lung cancer, and melanoma, achieving a strong complementarity to our research program portfolio (www.dkfz.de). Suitable candidates have previously demonstrated their ability to direct a program of highly innovative and original research which addresses fundamental questions related to epidemiology and early cancer detection.

The successful candidate will initiate interdisciplinary collaborations on a national as well as international level to conduct large-scale epidemiological studies, including interventional trials. The new division head will develop and enhance modern methods in epidemiological research, including AI-assisted diagnostics, decision modeling, and implementation science, to find new avenues for more cost-effective, personalized, and risk-adapted approaches as well as powerful population-based programs. The portfolio will include, for example, the evaluation of risk factors and risk markers, early cancer detection markers and prognostic factors as well as state-of-the-art methodology of cohort studies and interventional trials. The successful candidate will work closely together with other interdisciplinary teams in the fields of epidemiology, primary cancer prevention, oncogenesis research, biomarker development, imaging, and cancer survivorship research, thereby focusing on questions of high relevance to the implementation of early detection programs at the individual and population level. The successful candidate must have a strong track record of participating in large international consortia and has conducted cross-sectional and cross-institutional work. Experience gained at internationally leading cancer institutions is also highly desirable. We are looking for a candidate who has demonstrated successful acquisition of independent third-party funding. The position offers an exceptional opportunity to lead a division dedicated to advancing the mission of the DKFZ in the field of early detection research. The successful candidate has proven leadership skills, is capable of mentoring and furthering junior researchers, fostering a stimulating and inclusive research environment and assuring leadership roles in comprehensive strategic programs.

The W3 professorship will be part of the “Epidemiology, Public Health, Prevention and Survivorship” research topic at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and is part of the National Cancer Prevention Center (NCPC) in Heidelberg, which is currently being established in a partnership between the DKFZ and the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). Research relevant for early cancer detection is also performed by a number of DKFZ research divisions and groups in the fields of cancer biology, data science, physics, and biomedical engineering, as well as clinical translation. The successful candidate will build cooperations with these groups and benefit from the rich research environment at DKFZ. Collaboration with DKFZ’s clinical and research partners will give him/her excellent access to clinical data and materials, large epidemiological cohorts, and cancer registries.

The ideal candidate will link his/her research program to the University Hospitals in Mannheim and Heidelberg, the NCPC, the DKFZ Hector Cancer Insitute at University Medicine Mannheim, the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Helmholtz Health, the German National Cohort (NAKO), the network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC) of the German Cancer Aid and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), as well as extend collaborations with leading global institutions, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Cancer Prevention Europe (CPE), Cancer Core Europe (CCE), and the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) – and thereby represent methodological, policy-oriented and clinical-strategic networks.

The position at the level of a division head is equipped with attractive basic funding, including personnel, consumables, and investment resources. In addition, access to competitive intramural funding programs of the DKFZ and the Helmholtz Association is provided.

Prerequisites for application are a completed university degree in human medicine, a qualified doctorate, and pedagogical eligibility, which is usually demonstrated by teaching experience, as well as additional scientific achievements (a habilitation, a successfully evaluated junior professorship, or habilitation-equivalent qualifications) in accordance with article 47 (2) of the Higher Education Act of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg.

The position is tenured. The joint appointment follows the ‘Jülich model’, where the successful candidate will be appointed as a full and lifetime professor at Heidelberg University and granted a leave of absence to the DKFZ to lead the division ‘Clinical Epidemiology of Early Cancer Detection’. If the general requirements under civil service law and budgetary law are met, the appointment to the professorship will usually be made directly on the basis of a lifetime civil servant status (Beamtenverhältnis auf Lebenszeit).

Applications should be submitted by April 16, 2026, including curriculum vitae, copies of certificates and degrees, a list of publications, a research concept, and information on teaching experience in accordance with the "Applicant Guideline Template" and the “Applicant Form” of the Medical Faculty Mannheim for W3 professorships (see https://www.umm.uni-heidelberg.de/karriere/berufung/). The application is to be submitted exclusively in electronic form, both through the DKFZ application management (https://www.dkfz.de/en/career/jobs) to Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Michael Baumann, Chairman and Scientific Director of the DKFZ, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, as well as by email via the “Berufungsteam” of the Medical Faculty Mannheim (berufung@medma.uni-heidelberg.de) to Prof. Dr. med. Sergij Goerdt, Dean of the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University.

Are you interested?

Then become part of the DKFZ and join us in contributing to a life without cancer!