Research Assistant in Computational Biology

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on, among other things, cancer, genetic and autoimmune diseases. One of the core ideas at the department is to stimulate translational research and thus promote closer collaboration between medical research and healthcare. Research is conducted within six research programs: cancer precision medicine, cancer immunotherapy, genomics and neurobiology, molecular tools and functional genomics, neuro-oncology and neurodegeneration, as well as vascular biology. Parts of the activities are also integrated with the departments of oncology, clinical genetics, clinical immunology, clinical pathology, and hospital physics at Uppsala University Hospital. The department has teaching assignments in several program educations, independent courses, and international master's programs within the Faculty of Medicine and the technical-nature sciences area. The department has a turnover of approximately 550 million SEK, of which about two-thirds are external research grants. The number of employees is about 400, of which about 100 are doctoral students, and there are over 850 active in the workforce. Read more about the department's activities here: http://www.uu.se/medarbetare/institution/immunologi-genetik-och-patologi (http://www.uu.se/medarbetare/institution/immunologi-genetik-och-patologi)

Job Description:

We are looking for a research assistant in computational biology, bioinformatics, or data science. 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. The candidate will work in Marcel Tarbier's lab (https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/marcel-tarbier/ (https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/marcel-tarbier/)).

Our research focuses on the development of computational methods (statistical methods and machine learning) for single-cell gene expression data (such as single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and in situ sequencing) to derive complex cellular properties. The two main projects in the lab aim to infer cellular lineage relationships and cellular microenvironments, respectively. This is achieved through a data-driven approach, where large complex datasets are quantitatively dissected and subtle signatures are linked to additional observations. This, in turn, lays the foundation for applications in precision medicine related to human biopsies and cancer heterogeneity. The candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to various projects under the guidance of senior researchers, to develop and follow up on their own ideas, and to expand their skills at the intersection of mathematics, programming, and biology.

Qualifications:

Master's degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, computer science, applied statistics, machine learning, biotechnology, molecular biology/medicine, or equivalent, or a foreign degree equivalent to a master's degree. Knowledge at the intersection of mathematics, programming, and biology is required. The applicant should have experience in two of these areas and an interest in learning about the remaining one. The candidate is required to be able to work with R or Python programming as well as some experience in writing original code for data analysis and/or implementing and adjusting existing analysis pipelines. Some experience in statistics, dataset management, data analysis, and visualization is expected. Fluent English in both spoken and written form is a requirement.

Desirable and/or Meritorious:

• Experience with omics data (e.g., RNA-seq, proteomics, etc.) and downstream analyses (e.g., dimensionality reduction, enrichment analysis, etc.)
• Experience with single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, or in situ sequencing
• Experience handling complex data and technical and other biases
• Experience in data integration, machine learning, or RNA pseudotime and velocity analyses

About the Position

The position is temporary, 6 months with the possibility of extension. The scope is full-time. Start date by agreement. Location: Uppsala

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Marcel Tarbier, marcel.tarbier@igp.uu.se (mailto:marcel.tarbier@igp.uu.se)

We welcome your application by March 31, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/688.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the country's most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it's like to work at Uppsala University https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/)

The position may be subject to security clearance. In the case of security clearance, a requirement for employment is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.