One to two postdoctoral positions in Computational Biology and Medicine

The Department of Medical Biosciences is an internationally successful research environment with a translational focus in pathology, clinical chemistry and medical and clinical genetics. The department belongs to the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University and has approximately 90 employees who conduct research, clinical activities, and teaching. The department is located in the "Translational Research Centre", a research centre at Umeå University in direct contact with Norrland University Hospital.

We are now looking for one to two postdoctoral researchers in Computational Biology and Medicine. There are several research projects in our research group at the Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University. The research group is connected to SciLifeLab and is part of the National Program for Data-driven Life Science (DDLS), generously funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Our research is focused on the use machine learning + AI tools as well as more classical but largest-scale equation-based mechanistic computational models together with patient data to create clinically predictive computational models for cancer and other diseases.

Description of the project
The overall theme of the Erdem Lab is to merge machine learning and mechanistic models with patient data to create clinically predictive computational models. Thus, there are multiple projects to undertake:

Project 1: Multi-omics data integration using machine learning to generate new, data-driven, and context-specific association networks and signaling pathways. See here for a reference paper from our work.
Project 2: Further development and use of our in-house pipeline for large-scale mechanistic model construction to train personalized computational models for studying in-silico clinical intervention strategies. See here for a reference paper from our work.
Project 3: Combining parts and pieces of tools in Project 1 and Project 2 to infer causality among correlative associations predicted by the former. See here for a reference paper from our work.

Work responsibilities
The projects involve retrieving and analysing multi-omics datasets from cell lines or tumor samples, either publicly available or generated by our collaborators. Following FAIR and reproducible research principles, the tasks include bioinformatic analyses in local and national high-performance computing clusters. Based on the candidates’ experience and desire, all projects may include in-house experimental (wet-lab) follow-up and validations. Tasks also include literature searches, result compilations, and manuscript drafting. Attending and leading group meetings is also included.

Eligibility 
A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate in computational biology, computer science, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, molecular biology/medicine or equivalent is eligible for appointment as postdoctoral researcher. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time at which the appointment decision is made.

You are proficient in omics data analyses and bioinformatics and have experience in working and driving intradisciplinary projects. Proficiency in one or more programming languages (R, MATLAB, or Python) is required. Based on the project match, experience in PK/PD and ODE-based modeling or in statistics and machine learning is required. Basic experience of laboratory work and cell culture is also considered a merit. Good verbal and written skills in English are a requirement.

Additional useful qualifications
Since appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is a career-development position for junior researchers, we are primarily interested in applicants who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, an applicant who has completed their degree earlier than that may be considered. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, appointments of trust for a trade union organisation or other similar circumstances, and for relevant duties/assignments within the subject area.

The successful candidate is highly motivated to do research and has the ability to take own initiatives, be able to work both independently as well as part of a team. Furthermore, the applicant should have good analytical and organizational skill. Great emphasis will be placed on the candidate’s potential collaborative skills. 

More information about the position
The appointment is a full-time, fixed-term position for two years in accordance with the terms of contract for fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher starting 1 April 2025 or according to agreement. The work location is Umeå University.

Application
The application must include:

• A brief description of your research interests and a statement describing why you are interested in the position (max two A4 pages).
• CV (max six A4 pages).
• List of publications (max two A4 pages).
• Degree certificate from doctoral studies and other relevant degrees.
• Contact details of two reference persons (email address, phone number with country code, postal address).

The application must be written in English. The application must be made via our e-recruitment system Varbi and must be received latest 16 February 2025. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Cemal Erdem (cemal.erdem@umu.se). 

We look forward to receiving your application.