Position title: Research Officer/Post-doctoral Scientist – Bioinformatics Stem Cell Biology
Employer: Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney
Closing date: 09 June 2023
Brief position description: About the job
Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) was Australia’s first dedicated paediatric research facility and is now one of the nation’s most highly regarded independent medical research centres. Our research focuses on embryonic development, cancer, neuroscience and gene therapy and we have a strong international reputation based on our research outcomes. CMRI’s research programs are supported by state of the art facilities and committed research and support staff. Our achievements are made possible by a loyal network of community supporters, highly engaged donors and the very successful Jeans for Genes® fundraising campaign.
A two-year Research Officer/Post-doctoral position funded by a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Stem Cell Therapies Mission grant is now available at the Computational Systems Biology lab at CMRI. We are looking for a highly motivated researcher to employ computational and data analytics approaches to investigate cell identity and cell fate decisions using bulk and single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics data generated from stem cells and organoids systems. The successful applicant will have a PhD (or be in the final stages of completion) with a strong background in data analytics and computational systems biology, and a working knowledge in molecular cell and stem cell biology.
Position Summary
The Computational Systems Biology (CSB) lab at CMRI is welcoming applications for a Research Officer/Post-doctoral Scientist to conduct research in the broad area of computational systems biology of stem cells and organoid systems. Our research focuses on the acquisition of particular cell identity and cell fate decisions during cell differentiation, and to translate such knowledge for stem cell engineering and regenerative medicine. In collaboration with the Stem Cell Medicine lab at CMRI, the CSB lab has established experimental techniques including single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics and phosphoproteomics to profile human and mouse embryonic/adult stem cells and various stem cell-derived organoids (e.g., eye organoids, brain organoids, and heart organoids). This appointment is at CMRI and will be affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney. The appointee is expected to lead their own projects, contribute to internal or external collaborations, and when possible guide student research. The ability to work as part of a team is essential.
Position Compensation
Duration: Initially 2-year fixed term with potential for an 1-year extension (full time).
The candidate will be compensated with a competitive remuneration package in accordance with qualifications and experience. Additional benefits include the provision of a Public Benevolent Institution salary packaging scheme and participation in an employer-contributed superannuation fund.
Essential Characteristics
The appointee will be an ambitious post-doctoral scientist with a bold and creative approach to research. They will be capable of independent thought and project design, and will be able to work in a collaborative team setting. Exceptional candidates will be eligible for an internal CMRI post-doctoral fellowship, and the possibilities provided by this unique funding opportunity. The following characteristics and research experience are essential to this position.
• A PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, applied statistics, computer science, systems biology and molecular biology or another closely related scientific discipline. Candidates in the final stages of PhD submission are welcome to apply.
• High proficiency with at least one programming language (e.g., R, Python).
• Demonstrated experience with data analytics in omics data analysis.
• Proven ability and commitment to produce high quality work, including track record of scientific publication.
• Proven research ability, and evidence of self-motivation and research potential.
• Proven excellence in written and oral communications, interacting with a variety of researchers and stakeholders.
Desirable Characteristics
• Knowledge of stem cells and molecular cell biology.
• Experience with deep learning.
Computational Systems Biology Lab
The CSB lab (https://smex-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fpyanglab.github.io&umid=4e18582d-3f3e-417b-8f53-15c6fe845f01&auth=2af5473c4b03509246eb08bd803a6cf835f69953-d29bb5b92a435ca262ffa6b231098c9ef9d42797) combines computational (‘dry’) and experimental (‘wet’) expertise to study cell identity and cell fate decisions of stem cells and organoids systems. The lab resides in CMRI, Westmead, while also holding office space both at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney. The CSB lab collaborates closely with other lab at CMRI (e.g., Stem Cell Medicine, Embryology) and is part of the Sydney Precision Bioinformatics Alliance and Sydney Precision Data Science Centre, The University of Sydney. The appointee will have ample opportunity to collaborate with bioinformaticians, statisticians, computational and systems biologists, and stem cells and developmental biologists within CMRI and from The University of Sydney.
Current focus of the CSB lab is on using computational approaches and bulk and single-cell multi-omics data to characterise cell identity and predict cell fate decisions for stem cell differentiation and organoid generation. The lab is currently supported by an NHMRC Investigator grant and two MRFF Stem Cell Therapies Mission grants. Most significant publications of the lab in the last five years appears in Cell Press and Nature Portfolio (http://pyanglab.github.io/publications.html) For more information please visit https://pyanglab.github.io/.
Application
Applications should include a cover letter (citing PV2250), curriculum vitae and contact details (phone/email) of three professional referees and be forwarded to recruitment@cmri.org.au
Closing date for applications is (09 June 2023).
Please direct enquiries regarding the position to Associate Professor Pengyi Yang, NHMRC Investigator, pengyi.yang@sydney.edu.au.
Job website: http://pyanglab.github.io/
Contact name: Pengyi Yang
Contact email: pengyi.yang@sydney.edu.au