Senior Computational Postdoctoral Research Scientist

University of Oxford

We are seeking to appoint a Senior Computational Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. The Pathania Laboratory focuses on developing novel, more disease-representative models of brain tumours that recapitulate tumour behaviour in vivo, therapeutic response, and inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity. The research integrates in vivo models, primary and patient-derived cell lines, drug and CRISPR screening, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, genomics and computational biology. You will analyse and generate hypotheses from single-cell (10X), spatial (Visium HD), ATAC-seq and CUT&RUN genomics datasets derived from in vivo brain tumour models and cross-reference these with human tumour datasets to identify molecular targets underlying tumour maintenance and resistance to chemo, radio- and immunotherapy.

You will be responsible for designing, planning and conducting high-quality, independent research aligned with the project aims, and critically analysing, interpreting and presenting experimental data with scientific rigour and reproducibility. You will manage your own academic research and administrative activities, including coordinating multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines.

You will supervise and train junior staff in single-cell, spatial and epigenomics analysis, interpret results and present them to senior members of the group, and communicate progress to the Principal Investigator and research team. You will participate in scientific discussions, contribute ideas for future research projects, develop ideas for generating research income and new scientific techniques, and contribute to grant applications while managing your own area of a larger research budget.

You will collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles, regularly write research articles for peer-reviewed journals, and present papers at conferences and seminars. You will act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group, assist in dissemination of research findings, attend scientific meetings and training, and participate in public engagement and widening access activities.

It is essential that you hold a PhD/DPhil in computational biology or a related life science field and have a background in computational analyses relevant to brain or cancer research. You must demonstrate expertise in single-cell omics, spatial omics, ATAC-seq and CUT&RUN analysis, and cross-species integration of omics datasets. You will have strong skills in decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organising research with attention to detail. You will demonstrate excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present data at conferences and represent the research group at meetings, as well as experience collaborating with computational scientists and interpreting genomics data to generate testable hypotheses. Experience in mentoring, training or supervising junior staff or students is essential.

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 36 months and is funded by the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

Only applications received before 12 midday on 23 April 2026 will be considered. Please quote 185648 on all correspondence.