Postdoctoral Bioinformatician (Epigenetics)

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We are seeking to recruit a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Bioinformatician to develop and implement approaches to computationally analyse single-cell multi-omic data sets.

Gene expression programmes are spatial-temporally controlled by cis-regulatory elements including promoters, enhancers and silencers. Epigenomic information, including combinations of specific histone modifications, help to set the status of cis-regulatory elements in different cells and instruct lineage-specific gene regulatory networks. However, our knowledge about how epigenomes contribute to establishing lineage-specific gene regulatory networks is restricted by the limitation that conventional bulk sequencing-based techniques capture epigenomes from tissues mixed with various cell types. To facilitate the unbiased definition of lineages and enable the examination of lineage-specific gene regulatory networks, our group has developed cutting-edge single cell multi-omics sequencing methods that profile transcriptomes and multiple histone modifications in the same single cells, providing powerful new tools to investigate the combinatorial principles of lineage-specific epigenetic regulation.

In parallel with these experimental advances, we are also developing improved computational methods to maximise the information and novel insights that can be gained from multi-omic data sets. These data sets present unique challenges in their analysis, including high dimensionality and sparsity, and significant cell-to-cell variability. As a result, not all that methods that have been developed so far to annotate and characterise cis-regulatory elements from bulk methods can be directly applied, and new analysis strategies are needed. This need forms the basis for this new project to develop computational approaches for studying single cell epigenomes consisting of histone modifications and transcriptomics.

The job holder will work closely with experimental and computational scientists within the Rugg-Gunn group, and with colleagues in the Epigenetics Programme and Babraham Bioinformatics. The successful candidate will develop and apply multifactorial approaches in the analysis of single-cell multi–omics data to investigate and model epigenome-transcriptome interactions in human development. The position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of single-cell methods and to develop new tools and approaches to maximise novel insights from the data. The overall significance of this work will be to advance our understanding of the gene regulatory principles that underpin cell fate decisions in early embryo development.

The successful applicant will have a strong working knowledge of single-cell multimodal sequencing datasets, a good understanding of one of the main programming languages (R or Python), and an excellent aptitude for bioinformatic tool and workflow development. We are looking for applicants who are collaborative with effective communication skills and enjoy working in a team.

The Babraham Institute is a world-leading research institute, with a positive and supportive culture of development and wellbeing, and provisions for onsite accommodation and excellent nursery. The Epigenetics Programme provides a thriving research and training environment. We benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities at Babraham run by dedicated staff, including Genomics, Bioinformatics and a compute cluster. We have close links to the University of Cambridge through affiliations with the Stem Cell Institute, the Centre for Trophoblast Research, Reproduction SRI, the Epigenetics Club, and with the many external groups that we work with.

This is a limited term appointment with funding for this post available for a period of five years.

A full job specification and role requirements can be found attached to this vacancy. 

Informal enquiries about the position can be addressed to Peter Rugg-Gunn (peter.rugg-gunn@babraham.ac.uk).

For more information on the work of the group, please visit 

Applicants must hold a PhD or have their thesis submitted when commencing the post. Please note that you will be appointed on the starting salary of £34,500 per annum, if you have not yet been awarded your PhD.   All newly appointed postdocs will commence on the salary/scale point that reflects the number of years' post-PhD experience they hold on 30th June in the calendar year they commence employment.

Closing date for applications is Sunday, 11th August 2024.

However, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early depending on the volume of applications received.

The Babraham Institute welcomes applications from all sections of society.