Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Multiscale Modelling and Spatial Analysis of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

University of Oxford - Centre for Human Genetics

Location: Oxford

Salary: £38,674 to £43,171 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 26th August 2025

Closes: 11th September 2025

Job Ref: 178628

Location: Centre for Human Genetics, Building for Genomic Medicine, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BN

Salary: Research Grade 7: salary in range £38,674 - £43,171 per annum. This is inclusive of a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year

The Applied Spatial Biology Oxford Group has an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join their team. The work will be jointly supervised by Professor Helen Byrne (Mathematical Institute, MI), Professor Simon Leedham (NDM), Dr Joshua Moore (MI) and Dr Eoghan Mulholland (NDM).

Colorectal Cancer- Stratification of Therapies through Adaptive Responses (CRC-STARS) is a CRUK strategic programme. Through multiomic and spatial biology exploration of temporally distinct samples from clinical trials and advanced biological models, an international consortium of leading colorectal cancer scientists, clinicians and mathematicians will explore the mechanisms of evolved adaptive response to therapeutic selective pressures in colorectal cancer.

You will be responsible for developing spatially-resolved models of metastatic outgrowth in the liver which account for interactions between stromal, immune and tumour cells. You will analyse quantitative imaging data from a variety of sources, including Spatial Transcriptomics and Multiplex Immunofluorescence platforms, for validation and calibration of mathematical models. You will also develop skills in mathematical modelling and spatial analysis via independent study and training courses.

It is essential that you hold a PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in mathematics, computational biology, physics or a related discipline, and have experience of agent-based and/or continuum modelling, analysis and simulation. You will have experience of programming in Python and C++, or demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire fluent knowledge of new programming languages, libraries, and platforms, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary research in the biological and medical sciences.

Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only. Any other documents will be requested at a later date.

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract for 30 months and is funded by CRUK.

Only applications received before 12 midday on 11 September 2025 will be considered. Please quote 178628 on all correspondence.

To apply for this role, please click on the Apply button above.