Post Doctorate Scientist in Welwyn

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The position is sponsored by the Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship (RPF) Programme, with the ambition to build and maintain the Scientific Leadership of the future and to provide leading Roche scientists with the opportunity to collaborate with talented postdoctoral researchers, and leading academic research groups, from around the world. One of the key aims is to advance basic science and technologies that will be published in top-rated, peer-reviewed scientific journals.

As a Roche Postdoctoral Fellow in the Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) Ophthalmology Department, you will focus on pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling and retinal image forecasting to advance pRED’s Ophthalmology pipeline and strategy. You will be working with a strong, interdisciplinary mentorship team bringing together expertise in Computational Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Translational Medicine Ophthalmology to develop mechanistic, interpretable models for simulating response to treatment, disease progression, and enable detailed insights into pharmacodynamics at the individual eye level, as well as computer vision models and visualization methods.

The role focuses on analyzing Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) retinal images sourced from both a home monitoring device (SCANLY, Notal Vision for dense daily monitoring) and clinically used SD-OCT instruments (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering). This project aims to aid in product differentiation and commercialization strategy, enhance market positioning, and demonstrate predicted treatment outcomes to physicians and patients, ultimately improving overall clinical trial efficiency and individualized therapeutic strategies.

As a Postdoctoral Fellow, you will be supervised by multidisciplinary scientists at Roche, as well as an independent academic expert as partners. You will be based in Welwyn (United Kingdom) with visits to the Roche Basel (Switzerland) Headquarters and to our academic partner at the University of Tuebingen (Germany). The project’s primary goal is to develop, assess, and publish novel imaging methodologies, including modeling time course of PD properties, pixel-level predictions, and data representation / visualizations, and is initially set for a duration of two years, with the possibility of a third-year extension.

In this position you will:

• Collaborate with the host teams and other stakeholders to develop and evaluate analysis techniques and applications
• Design, build and interpret data analysis algorithms and visualizations to address selected research questions, including data pre-processing
• Prepare scientific communication content (presentations, reports, conference abstracts and manuscripts) to share the results of the project with a wider community.

To be eligible for a Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship, you must be within the first four years of completing your Doctoral degree in a relevant field at the start of the project.

You are a graduate with the following qualifications:

• Ph.D. within the first four years after completion
• Strong theoretical and practical command of longitudinal modeling, particularly time-series analysis using Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs)
• Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence (AI) development using deep neural networks in Python, and experience working with complex, high-dimensional imaging data, ideally in the form of volumetric medical imaging (e.g., OCT scans in DICOM/MHD format) or clinical trial datasets
• Demonstrated curiosity and drive to learn and innovate, with the ability to take initiative and suggest new ideas
• Proven experience working in cross-functional, matrix teams, with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex scientific ideas in a concise and accessible manner
• Goal-oriented and highly motivated, with an analytical mindset and the ability to distill complex issues into actionable solutions
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Fluent in English (both written and spoken)
• Publication record demonstrating independent and creative research

Additional experience and competencies preferred:

• A basic understanding of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling in drug development
• Experience with generative AI and/or neural ODEs
• Previous experience in the Ophthalmology field in academia or industry

Application Process

Phase I: CV & Cover Letter screen, Applicants must submit a CV, motivation letter, and publication list as part of their application. A PhD certificate should also be included if available. Letters of recommendation are encouraged but not mandatory.

Phase II: Video Interview - details will be shared with shortlisted candidates. Purpose: In both stages, our focus is to understand why you are applying for this role and what you will bring to ensure team and personal success. We look forward to learning more about you and your motivation to join our team.

Phase III: Virtual Interviews - details will be shared with shortlisted candidates. Disclosure note: For 2026-28 the Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) Ophthalmology Department will appoint one Post Doctorate Scientist. Fellowship start date: The preferred start date of this fellowship is based on availability, but no later than 1st of July 2026. Please clearly indicate your preferred starting date in your motivation letter.

Please note: Unfortunately, visa sponsorship are not available for this role. Candidates must already hold a valid authorisation to work in the UK.

Application deadline: 24th March 2026

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The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Roche Products Ltd. At Roche Products we believe diversity drives innovation and we are committed to building a diverse and flexible working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability or age. We recognise the importance of flexible working and will review all applicants’ requests with care. At Roche difference is valued and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where you are encouraged to bring your whole self to work.