We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join the Sottoriva Lab at the Centre for Evolution and Cancer within The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR) and investigate the evolution of colorectal and prostate cancer through the analysis and interpretation of next-generation sequencing data.
The Sottoriva Lab (
www.sottorivalab.org) focuses on deciphering the mechanisms of cancer growth, progression and dissemination in each patient using rigorous 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.
For this project we will perform genomic profiling based on next-generation sequencing of human colorectal and prostate malignancies from large clinically annotated cohorts. We aim at analysing and interpret the data with state of the art bioinformatics techniques and novel statistical methods, with the aim of making predictions on the evolution of each tumour.
The successful candidate will focus on understanding clonal evolution of cancer at the genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic levels, and will also be involved in the analysis of publically available datasets. The candidate will be responsible for analysing the data and interpreting the results in light of tumour evolution, with the aim of understanding fundamental underlying dynamics of tumour growth and progression. In particular, the responsibilities include analysis of whole-genome, whole-exome, ChIP-seq and RNAseq data, and interpretation of the results.
The successful post holder 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 good first degree in computer science, statistics or similar and a PhD in bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology or similar. Applicants must have experience with next-generation sequencing and have a good publication record in the field of genomics. Experience with large-scale genomic data (e.g. TCGA) would be advantageous. Excellent organizational 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 dependent 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. 1626816.
