Senior Postdoctoral Fellow/Postdoctoral Fellow - Somatic Genomics Programme

Saffron Walden, United Kingdom

2026-05-06 (Europe/London)

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow/ Senior Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Rahbari group in the Somatic Genomics Programme for a 2.5 year fixed term contract with the potential for extension.

This position offers a unique opportunity to address fundamental questions in human somatic evolution and its consequences for disease and inheritance. The role spans multiple ongoing projects investigating (i) the dynamics of somatic evolution in normal and precancerous tissues, and (ii) the impact of environmental and clinical exposures including chemotherapy on mutational processes across tissues and their potential transmission to the next generation.

What you'll be doing:

• Designing and delivering an original research project aligned with ongoing work on somatic evolution, contributing new ideas and helping shape future research directions.
• Applying and extending state-of-the-art computational and/or experimental approaches to analyse large-scale sequencing datasets and address complex biological questions.
• Working at the interface of computational biology, genomics and evolutionary modelling, leveraging large-scale sequencing datasets (including whole-genome and duplex sequencing) to uncover patterns of mutation accumulation, clonal dynamics and selection.
• Taking advantage of opportunities to develop and apply novel analytical frameworks, integrating multi-omic data (DNA, RNA and epigenomics) to generate new biological insights.
• Contributing to a collaborative and inclusive research environment through knowledge sharing, teamwork and engagement with the wider scientific community.
• Participating in the Postdoctoral Fellow Programme, with dedicated support for training, career development and networking

About You:

You will have a computational or quantitative background and experience contributing to research. You are interested in developing your independence and shaping research directions, while working within a collaborative and supportive team environment.

You enjoy working with others, sharing ideas and learning new approaches, and are motivated by contributing to research that improves our understanding of human health and disease. You are keen to continue developing your skills and expertise, with support and mentorship.

Essential Skills:

• PhD in a relevant subject area, including Cancer Genomics, Biological Sciences, Medicine, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline, or on track to be awarded within 6 months of starting the role.
• Proven ability to deliver research projects
• A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
• Ability to analyse and interpret data with strong quantitative/computational skills
• Experience in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, R, or similar)
• Previous work experience in a molecular biology laboratory
• Experience with core molecular biology techniques, including sample preparation, RT, qPCR and RNA/DNA extraction
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of backgrounds, experience and expertise
• Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
• Ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
• Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work independently
• Detail-orientated, strong organisational and problem-solving skills

Additional Skills for Senior Postdoctoral Fellow:

• Proven ability to lead and deliver research projects, including evidence of taking projects from conception through to publication
• A demonstrable track record of research excellence, demonstrated through high-quality publications, preprints, or equivalent research outputs
• Expertise in analytical and quantitative skills, with demonstrated ability to analyse, interpret, and integrate complex large-scale datasets
• Demonstrated experience in computational biology/genomics, including analysis of DNA sequencing data (e.g. whole-genome sequencing); experience with RNA or methylation data is advantageous
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, R, or similar), and experience working in high-performance or large-scale computing environment
• Excellent influencing skills to engage internal and external stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds
• Demonstrated mentorship, supervision and leadership abilities

Other Information:

For further details, please see the role profiles.

Salary per annum (dependent upon your skills and experience): £38,570-£49,893

Application Process:

Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above.

Closing Date: 6th May 2026

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.