We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join the Sottoriva Lab (
www.sottorivalab.org) at the Centre for Evolution and Cancer within The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR) and work on predicting the evolution of prostate cancer using image analysis within a collaboration with Prof David Dearnaley, Dr Gert Attard and Dr Yinyin Yuan.
The Sottoriva Lab focuses on deciphering the mechanisms of cancer growth, progression and dissemination in each patient using rigorous mathematical and computational approaches, with the objective of anticipating the future course of the disease. We tackle cancer as a complex system, using rational tissue sampling and cancer genomics as the basis for data generation. We integrate the genomic information with mathematical and computational models of tumour evolution, with the aim of formulating clinically-driven hypotheses and test predictions that will impact the way we treat cancer.
The main focus of the Yuan lab (
www.yuanlab.org) is to develop new ways of studying tumors by fusing histological image analysis, ecological statistics and bioinformatics. The goal is to understand how the microenvironment of cancer cells, such as the surrounding immune cells and stromal cells, helps or prevents cancer growth with ecological theories.
In this interdisciplinary project, we aim at combining image analysis of prostate cancer histological images from a large clinical trial, with matched multi-region DNA sequencing of tumours, with the aim of discovering new predictive and prognostic measures that will allow forecasting the course of the disease in individual patients. The successful candidate will lead the development of new histology image analysis tools to analyse tissue sections generated in this study and will be involved in the development of new mathematical and computational frameworks to integrate imaging with genomic data. This exciting project will enable the discovery of new biomarkers predictive of progression in prostate cancer. The successful post holders will provide image analysis expertise for developing new tools to process histological images of prostate cancers.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to interact within a multidisciplinary environment of molecular biologists, clinicians, computer scientists and mathematicians. They will have the opportunities to learn about latest approaches to deconvolute the complexity of cancer evolution and will explore new research areas in medicine.
ICR were ranked first in the Times Higher Education league table of UK university research quality from the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) for our high impact publications. We are world leaders in identifying cancer genes, discovering cancer drugs and developing precision radiotherapy. Together with our hospital partner The Royal Marsden, we are rated in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment worldwide. Our Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit is the largest academic cancer drug discovery and development group worldwide. We discover more new cancer drugs than any other academic centre in the world. The new “Centre for Evolution and Cancer” within the ICR is supported by a Strategic Award from the Wellcome Trust and currently includes six research groups and one bioinformatics team. We focus on interrogating clonal evolution in tumours by studying the dynamics of heterogeneous cancer cell populations and their microenvironment. We are interested in the dynamics of cancer clone development in patients and the impact of therapy.
Applicants should have a PhD degree in computer science, systems biology, engineering or similar. Experience in histological / pathological image analysis is highly desirable but not essential. Excellent organisational and communication skills are essential.
The position is offered on a fixed term 3-year contract. The full salary scale is in the range from £29,960 to £42,820 p.a. inclusive. Starting salary will be based on postdoctoral experience.
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Andrea Sottoriva (
[email protected]). Please DO NOT send your application to Dr. Sottoriva, formal applications must be submitted online.
To apply please upload your CV and covering letter (addressing with specific examples where you meet the person specification and incl. the names and addresses of two referees) online at
http://www.icr.ac.uk/jobsearch. Job Ref. No. 1626730.
