Grade PDF
Salary per annum £32,780-£41,093
Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working Full Time
Contract Type Fixed Term
Closing Date 30 April 2021
Contract Length 3 Years
Job Reference 84171

The Opportunity:

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated computational postdoctoral fellow to join Roser Vento-Tormo’s group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

About the Role:

You will lead a project focused on integrating single-cell multiomics and imaging datasets to understand immune development and response to infections. This work will be in collaboration with Dr. Ashraful Haque at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

About Us:

The mission of the Vento-Tormo lab is to implement state-of-the-art genomics & spatial methods to study the composition and dynamics of cellular microenvironments, as well as to develop new computational tools to facilitate interpretation, data analysis and integration of single-cell datasets (www.VenToLab.org). The lab is based at the Sanger Wellcome Institute (WSI) a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, innovative institute in Cambridge (UK) and works closely with other teams single-data within the cellular genetics program and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) to advance in the genomics field.

About You:

You must be familiar with genomics, and will play a vital role in writing up studies. You will have the opportunity to be embedded in a large community of computational and experimental scientists. You will be integrated in the Vento-Tormo lab, a highly collaborative, international work environment with well-experience colleagues in single-cell and spatial data production, analysis and methods development (www.VenToLab.org).

As a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cellular Genetics Programme, you will be joining a collaborative and cutting-edge environment. The Programme encourages everyone to network and to showcase their research, including at our weekly seminar series. In addition to support from the Sanger core areas of Scientific Operations, Management Operations and ICT, within the Programme the Cellular Genetics Operations teams provide comprehensive multidisciplinary support to help with everything from processing samples, delivering analysis pipelines, to assistance with fellowship applications. The Sanger Institute also supports PDFs by offering various training opportunities, chances to network, and has a PDF committee in place to ensure our PDFs are supported throughout their posts.

 For relevant publications of the team associated to this work, please, see:

-       Mapping the temporal and spatial dynamics of the human endometrium in vivo and in vitro. Garcia-Alonso L, Handfield L-F, Roberts K, Nikolakopoulou K,…, Bayraktar OA, Teichmann SA, Turco MY, Vento-Tormo R. BioRxiv (2021/425073)

 -       CellPhoneDB: Inferring cell-cell communication from combined expression of multi-subunit receptor-ligand complexes. Efremova M, Vento-Tormo M, Teichmann SA, Vento-Tormo R. Nat Protoc. 2020 Apr;15(4):1484-1506.

 -       Transcriptome dynamics of CD4 + T cells during malaria maps gradual transit from effector to memory. Soon MSF, …, Haque A.  Nat Immunol. 2020 Dec;21(12):1597-1610

 -       Single-cell reconstruction of the early maternal-fetal interface in humans. Vento-Tormo R et al., Nature. 2018 Nov;563(7731):347-353.

 -       Immunology in the Era of Single-Cell Technologies. Efremova M*, Vento-Tormo R*, Park JE*, Teichmann SA, James KR. Annu Rev Immunol. 2020 Apr 26;38:727-757.Co-first.

 -       Single-cell RNA-seq and computational analysis using temporal mixture modelling resolves Th1/Tfh fate bifurcation in malaria. Lönnberg T, Svensson V, James KR, …, Stegle O*, Haque A*, Teichmann* SA. (*Co-senior). Sci Immunol. 2017 Mar 3;2(9):eaal2192.

Essential Skills

Technical Skills:

• PhD in relevant quantitative discipline (e.g. Computational Biology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Physics, Engineering or Mathematics) 
• Proven understanding and experience in the fields of genomics, data processing and high-throughput data analysis 
• Good experience in Single Cell Analysis and Spatial Genomics Tools 
• Good record of publications 
• Experience developing statistical methods for the analysis of large data sets, particularly constrained generalized linear models and machine learning methods such as regularised logistic regression, decision trees, or support vector machines 

Behavioural Competencies:

• Motivation and ambition to make a personal contribution to GRL research 
• Excellent communication skills to allow efficient interactions with collaborators 
• Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment 
• Ability to effectively prioritise, multi-task and work independently
• Demonstrates inclusivity and respect for all 

Ideal Skills

• Experience with image data analysis

Other information

 Whilst the developments around COVID-19 continue to evolve, the Wellcome Genome Campus is closed for all but essential functions and facilities. 

People remain at the centre of everything that we do and the majority of our staff are now working remotely to ensure continuity of operations, making use of remote communication and collaboration tools.

Interviews will be taking place virtually and the successful candidate should expect to be fully supported through remote on-boarding and working from home until the Campus re-opens to all staff. This approach may vary for individuals located overseas and/or where a visa is required and starting will be based on a number of factors, we will be able to provide specialist advice to those affected candidates.

You can find out more about being a Postdoctoral Fellow with us here.

 Application Process:

Please apply with your CV and Cover Letter outlining your suitability for the role addressing the criteria set out above and in the job description.