A postdoctoral position is available at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland to work in the research group of Dr. Jing Tang (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/network-pharmacology-for-preci...). The position is part of an Academy of Finland’s research project that aims to do network pharmacology modeling to provide the mechanism of action of drugs and drug combinations for a systems-level understanding of cancer. The Tang group combines computational methods to offer improved efficiency methods to identify more effective cancer treatments for personalized medicine. The Tang laboratory is based at Research Program in Systems Oncology (ONCOSYS) (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/research-program-in-systems-on...) at the Meilahti biomedical campus.

Role description:

We are seeking at least one postdoctoral researcher to work on the computational methods to develop network pharmacology models for predicting drug combinations. The project is focused on strategies for predicting potential drug combination and patient subclasses by constructing multipartite networks using drug response data. The primary goal of the project is to analyse drug sensitivity datasets to exploit drug-target interaction data to explore the biological mechanism of drugs. A key aim of the work is to propose drug combination regimens focusing on patient-derived drug response data along with the providing a biochemical and biophysical understanding of a drug combination. Hematological malignances and ovarian cancer are the available datasets for this project. The post holder will be responsible for planning and conducting computational research within the project under the supervision of Dr. Mohieddin Jafari, and Prof. Jing Tang.

The ability to work well within a collaborative team is critical for this position. You will work with unique datasets derived from large-scale experiments associated with a diverse range of projects in pharmacology and molecular biology. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience based on the University guidelines. The full-time position start Jan 2021. A six-month trial period will be applied.

Key requirements:

We are seeking a creative and highly motivated individual with primary interest in network science and biomedical data mining. Candidates should have a PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, statistics, computer science or other related disciplines. The ideal candidate will have experience in at least one of the aforementioned areas, and a strong interest in the others. Previous experience with biological networks, omics datasets, and expertise in related statistics and modelling are considered an advantage. Solid skills in scripting/programming (preferably R and Python) are essential prerequisites for this position. Excellent communication and presentation skills in English, good organisational skills, troubleshooting expertise and the ability to work effectively to tight deadlines are desirable.

Appointment details:

The position is available from October 2020 onwards, and can be started later upon agreement. It is a two-year fixed-term position, with a possibility of extension. Trial period of 6 months will be applied. The salary will be based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance with the overall starting salary amounting to approximately 3300-3600 EUR per month, depending on the qualifications and previous relevant research experience of the candidate.

Application details:

Please submit your application via the University of Helsinki Recruitment System by clicking the ‘Apply for the position button’ below. Internal applicants (i.e. current employees of the University of Helsinki) should submit their applications through the SAP HR portal. If you need support with the recruitment system, please contact recruitment@helsinki.fi.

Please attach the following documents to your application as a single PDF file:

• CV (including publications)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) that details your past experience and motivation for applying to the post.
• At least two recommendation letters with the contact details

The deadline for applications is September 30th 2020. Interviews will be conducted either in person or online. For more information on the position, please contact Dr. Mohieddin Jafari (mohieddin.jafari(at)helsinki.fi) and Prof. Jing Tang (jing.tang(at)helsinki.fi).

The University of Helsinki (UH), founded in 1640, is a vibrant scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. It is one of the leading multidisciplinary research universities and ranks among the top 100 international universities in the world. It is currently investing heavily in life sciences research. UH offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development.

Together with the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) and the Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, constitutes the Academic Medical Center Helsinki (AMCH). This medical center has been very successful in international comparisons, ranking among the top 10 medical campuses in Europe and among the top 50 globally.

Research Program in Systems Oncology (ONCOSYS) consists of basic, translational and clinical researchers who use cutting-edge measurement technology, patient data and AI methods in cancer research and oncology. The overall objective of ONCOSYS is to understand the underlying causes of cancer progression or treatment resistance, and to develop effective diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches.

Due date

30.09.2020 23:59 EEST