Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow – Computational Modelling, MANIFEST Research Platform / Cancer Dynamics Laboratory

Reports to : Co-supervised by Cancer Dynamics Laboratory Group Leader and MANIFEST Consortium Lead Prof. Samra Turajlic (The Francis Crick Institute) and Integrative Modelling Group Leader Dr Xiao Fu (University of Glasgow)

Contract term : This is a full-time, fixed term (4 years) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

The Research Group & Project

THE MANIFEST RESEARCH PLATFORM

Harnessing the immune system to treat cancer has revolutionised survival outcomes for many patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies which unleash the brakes from immune cells to kill cancer cells, have become standard of care for many cancer subtypes. The success of existing, emerging and future immunotherapies and their routine use in the NHS is dependent on the appropriate tools, data and technology to rationalise their use and manage their side effects. Nevertheless, almost no biomarkers today can effectively distinguish responders from non-responders, predict toxicity, or guide treatment choices.

This exciting Postdoctoral position will contribute to MANIFEST (“Multiomic ANalysis of Immunotherapy Features Evidencing Success and Toxicity”), a newly formed ambitious multi-stakeholder consortium involving academic, industry and NHS partners to deliver deep multi-omic profiling for patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy. The MANIFEST consortium represents a diverse group of UK-wide experts in cancer research and clinical care comprising major NHS trusts, academic institutes and universities, and industry partners. This grant is funded by the UK Office of Life Sciences (OLS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

MANIFEST addresses the critical challenge in cancer treatment: predicting how patients will respond to immunotherapy. By integrating multi-omic data and innovative methodologies, this platform aims to enhance treatment precision and effectiveness.

More information can be found here: 

Summary of the role

We are looking for a driven and highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Cancer Dynamics Laboratory and undertake a range of mathematical and computational modelling projects. The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to integrate the modelling work closely with diverse research activities in the lab, such as genomic and spatial phenotyping of patient samples from the TRACERx Renal study as well as patient-derived organoid and tissue fragment experiments in vitro . The broad topics for modelling range from evolutionary dynamics of renal cancer to the crosstalk between cancer and the tumour microenvironment such as the immune system, building upon previous modelling studies by us and others [Zhao Y*, Fu X*, et al, NEE, 2021; Fu X*, Zhao Y*, et al. NEE, 2022; Kather JN, et al. Cancer Res, 2018].

A specific project for the Postdoctoral Fellow to focus on will be to develop data-informed computational models to investigate imaging-derived spatial immunophenotypes of patient samples and predict the effect of immunotherapy for renal cancer as well as identify predictive features. Development of these models will be informed by the multi-modal profiling and phenotyping efforts, such as highly multiplexed immunofluorescence using the Akoya PhenoCycler platform, as part of the recently awarded MANIFEST Consortium.

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Applicants with a PhD in Math, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, and related fields are desirable. Applicants with biological and experimental backgrounds with strong motivation to learn computational modelling are also encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant will work with Prof. Samra Turajlic and her highly multidisciplinary and collaborative Cancer Dynamics Laboratory comprising biologists, clinicians, experimentalists, bioinformaticians and data scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London. The Postdoctoral Fellow is also expected to interact closely with Dr. Xiao Fu and his Integrative Modelling Lab at the CRUK Scotland Institute and University of Glasgow.

The applicant will have opportunity to develop collaborations nationally and internationally, and there will be an opportunity to engage with our industry and academic partners. The candidate will have ample opportunities to develop their skills and access via 14 Science Technology Platforms (STPs) to state-of-the-art equipment, technical advice and practical instruction in cutting edge technologies.

Information about the work of the laboratory as a whole can be found at the links below:

@TurajlicLab

For further details you can contact samra.turajlic@crick.ac.uk

Key Responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

• Spearheading their project on the development of mathematical and computational models to study spatial immune microenvironment and response to immunotherapy.

• Management of collaboration with other group members and collaborators working on spatial biology and multimodal data integration.

• Regular meetings with Samra and Xiao to discuss research plans and progress.

• Presentations of research at Samra’s and Xiao’s lab meetings, MANIFEST Consortium meetings, and Cancer Interest Groups and other relevant events at the Crick.

• Writing and presenting work to MANIFEST stakeholders as required.

• Engaging in relevant MANIFEST programme workflows with academic, NHS and industry partners.

Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.

Person Specification

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, open, collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential skills/experience

• PhD or in the final stages of PhD submission.

• Strong interest in tumour immunology and immunotherapy.

• Good programming and data analysis experience and skills as evidenced in previous projects.

• Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in referred journals

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a diverse and multidisciplinary team.

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.

Desirable skills/experience

• Applicants with a PhD in Math, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, and related fields are desirable. Applicants with biological and experimental backgrounds with good programming skills, and with strong motivation to learn computational modelling, are also encouraged to apply.

• Experience in mathematical and computational modelling of cancer or other biological systems using Python, C++, Matlab, or similar programming language.

• Experience in data science projects, such as analysis of spatial proteomics and transcriptomics data.

• Familiarity with GitHub and High-Performance Computing.

About Us

At the Crick, we conduct research at the forefront of biomedical research. We combine rigour with an open and collaborative culture, and are outward-looking, reflecting our status as a partnership of six organisations aiming to pool knowledge, ideas and resources.

We have a wide research portfolio with no divisions or departments, bringing biomedical researchers together with clinicians, physical scientists and applied scientists from our pharmaceutical partners.

We aim to attract the most talented researchers and support them to tackle innovative research questions. Our science technology platforms provide our researchers with access to state-of-the-art technology and expertise.

We provide an excellent learning environment with dedicated education programmes in public engagement with science, education and personal development, and a postdoctoral training programme that prepares scientists for leadership roles in science.

• If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via our website .

• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

• If you require a visa to work in the UK we will help support your application should you be successful

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

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