PhD Position in Patient Safety and Clinical Resilience

Das Universitätsklinikum Augsburg ist eine der jüngsten Universitätskliniken Deutschlands. Wir sind Maximalversorger und beherbergen nahezu alle Fachrichtungen der Medizin unter einem Dach. Spitzenmedizinische Versorgung verbindet sich in unserem Haus nahtlos mit wegweisender Forschung und Lehre auf höchstem Niveau. Mit unseren interdisziplinären Forschungsschwerpunkten „Environmental Health Sciences“ und „Medical Information Sciences“ profilieren wir uns auf internationaler Ebene. Am Universitätsklinikum Augsburg werden jährlich rund 250.000 Patienten (m/w/d) stationär und ambulant versorgt. Für Diagnose und Therapie in allen medizinischen Fachdisziplinen stehen 1.699 Betten in insgesamt 23 Kliniken, vier Instituten und Medizinischen Zentren zur Verfügung. Um die Gesundheit unserer Patienten (m/w/d) kümmern sich über 1.000 Ärzte (m/w/d) sowie rund 2.500 Pflegekräfte.

Möchten Sie Teil dieses großartigen Teams werden und gemeinsam mit uns Patientenversorgung und Forschung vorantreiben? Dann ist das die Chance für Sie!

The Institute for Digital Medicine / IT Security Concepts in Medicine at the University Hospital Augsburg (UKA) is looking for a PhD researcher (m/f/d) in a full-time position. 

Digital technologies are essential to modern healthcare, but dependence on interconnected IT systems, data and digital workflows creates vulnerabilities that can affect care delivery and patient safety. The research group “Quantitative Resilience, Safety and Security in Medicine” at the Institute for Digital Medicine at University Hospital Augsburg develops quantitative models and decision support to help healthcare organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from digital disruptions.

You will identify critical dependencies between clinical processes, data and IT systems, quantify the consequences of digital disruptions and develop decision support for maintaining safe healthcare delivery.

Ihre Aufgaben

• Analyse clinical workflows and identify decision-critical data, IT systems and resource dependencies using routine data, process models and clinical expertise
• Develop resilience metrics and simulation models to quantify how IT outages and missing, delayed or manipulated data affect care delivery and patient safety
• Develop quantitative decision-support approaches for organizational, technical and capacity-related resilience measures
• Implement reproducible research software, publish scientific results and present them at international conferences
• Collaborate with clinical partners and the Chair of IT Infrastructures for Translational Medical Research; contribute to teaching activities

Ihr Profil

• Excellent master’s degree in operations research, industrial engineering, medical informatics, computer science, data science, mathematics or a related quantitative discipline
• Strong analytical skills and experience or a strong interest in simulation, mathematical optimization, process modelling or healthcare analytics
• Programming experience, preferably in Python or relevant simulation and optimization software
• Interest in patient safety and resilient healthcare operations; ability to work independently and collaborate with clinical and academic partners
• Initiative and enthusiasm for academic research
• Very good written and spoken English. German is desirable but not mandatory

Wir bieten

• An interdisciplinary research environment connecting quantitative methods, digital medicine and clinical practice
• Close collaboration with clinical and research partners at University Hospital Augsburg and the University of Augsburg
• A research position with the opportunity to work towards a doctoral degree, subject to the applicable admission requirements
• Opportunities to publish internationally, present research at conferences and contribute to scientific collaborations
• Participation in the development of research software, clinical case studies and teaching in resilient digital medicine
• Remuneration up to pay grade EG 13 TV-L, depending on qualifications and professional experience, including the standard social benefits provided in the public sector (occupational pension scheme and annual special payment)

Kontakt

Prof. Dr. Emilia Graß 
Professorship of Quantitative Resilience and Security Concepts in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg / Institute for Digital Medicine (IDM), University Hospital Augsburg (UKA) 
0721/608-43983

Please submit your application as soon as possible, latest at the 31st of October 2026.

We look forward to you!

The position is suitable for people with severe disabilities. Applicants (m/f/d) with severe disabilities will be preferred if they are essentially the same aptitude, ability and professional performance. Women are invited to apply in accordance with Article 7 (3) BayGlG. When starting work at the Augsburg University Hospital, proof of sufficient immune protection in accordance with §§ 23, 23a IfSG must be presented or the same must be met.