AI/ML Postdoctoral Fellow – F Rouhani lab

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Fellow to lead a cutting‑edge computational project investigating how driver mutation clones interact with their microenvironment in chronic liver disease and liver cancer. This is a highly collaborative and cross‑institutional role between the Francis Crick Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop advanced AI/ML methods for analysing spatial genomics and histology datasets.
• Apply graph neural networks, transformer models and generative AI approaches to study clone‑microenvironment interactions.
• Integrate spatial transcriptomics, single‑cell sequencing and imaging datasets.
• Design benchmarking strategies and reproducible computational workflows.
• Perform clonal reconstruction and spatial mapping analyses from genomic datasets.
• Collaborate closely with computational scientists, clinicians and experimental researchers across the Crick and Sanger Institute.
• Lead publications, conference presentations and dissemination of research findings.

Essential qualifications (Minimum criteria):

• PhD (or near submission) in computational biology, machine learning, computer science, statistics or a related quantitative discipline.
• Experience developing and applying deep learning or AI/ML methods to complex scientific datasets.
• Strong programming and scientific computing skills in Python (e.g. numpy, pandas, PyTorch and/or JAX).
• Experience analysing complex biological, imaging or spatial datasets, or strong evidence of rapidly adapting to new data domains.
• Excellent communication, organisational and collaborative working skills.
• Ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary and cross‑institutional research teams.

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience with spatial transcriptomics or single‑cell genomics analysis.
• Familiarity with graph neural networks, transformers, generative AI or foundation models.
• Experience working with cloud/HPC environments, workflow orchestration or reproducible computational pipelines.
• Publications or presentations at leading computational biology or machine learning conferences.
• Interest in cancer biology, tissue regeneration or translational genomics.

Benefits:

• Salary from £47,500 with benefits, subject to skills and experience.
• Visa sponsorship; eligibility to work in the UK.
• Generous leave: 28 days annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Defined contribution pension with employer contributions up to 16%.
• 24/7 GP consultation services, occupational health, mental health support programmes, eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.
• Work‑life balance: backup care for dependants, childcare support allowance, annual leave purchase options.
• Gym membership discounts, bike‑to‑work scheme, shopping discounts, subsidised on‑site restaurant and social spaces.
• Career support: Post‑doc to PI programme and other development activities.

The Francis Crick Institute is a charity, and we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and we make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment processes so that everyone can apply.

Important: Applicants must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile to have their application reviewed. The Francis Crick Institute reserves the right to withdraw this advert at any time due to the number of applications received.