Job description
We seek a motivated, proactive and enthusiastic computational Research Associate or Research Fellow (depending on seniority) to integrate genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and high dimensional imaging data to enhance the detection and treatment of oesophageal cancer.
 
Our group applies systems biology to study cancer evolution combining computational and wet-lab approaches, with a focus on the evolution of gastrointestinal cancers in time and space.
 
This involves the integration of heterogenous data composed of bulk, spatial and single cell genomic and transcriptomic data as well as high dimensional imaging data of cancer tissue sections, such as those coming from solid cyTOF. We work with patient samples and data of the OCCAMS consortium, one of the largest collection of oesophageal cancers worldwide. 
 
The research projects the candidate will be working on will be discussed and shaped with them to accommodate their interest and expertise.
 
We are part of the School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences of King’s College London and are located at The Francis Crick Institute in London ( see here ).
 
The candidate will have full access to several High-Performance Computer platforms available at King’s College London, Crick and Cancer Research UK City of London Centre ( https://www.colcc.ac.uk) and they will work in a dynamic and stimulating scientific environment with plenty of opportunities to collaborate with clinicians, basic biologists and computer scientists.
 
Informal inquiries can be addressed at francesca.ciccarelli@crick.ac.uk
 
Representative group publications:
Bortolomeazzi et al. A SIMPLI (Single-cell Identification from MultiPLexed Images) approach for spatially resolved tissue phenotyping at single-cell resolution Biorxiv   https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.01.437886
Nulsen et al. Pan-cancer detection of driver genes at the single-patient resolution (2021) Genome Medicine   https://doi:10.1186/s13073-021-00830-0  
Wijewardhane N, et al. Normal somatic mutations in cancer transformation (2021) Cancer Cell   https://doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2020.11.002     
Mourikis, T , et al. Patient-specific cancer genes contribute to recurrently perturbed pathways and establish therapeutic vulnerabilities in esophageal adenocarcinoma (2019) Nature Comms 10:3101   https://doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10898-3 
 
This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 2 years 
This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

Skills, knowledge, and experience
 
Research Fellow (Grade 6)  
 
Essential criteria 
 
1.       PhD (or equivalent) in bioinformatics; computer science; or related field 
2.       Proficiency in computer programming 
3.       Background knowledge in statistics 
4.       Experience of presenting data and results internally and externally in a timely and organised manner 
5.       Good verbal and written communication skills 
6.       Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail 
 
Research Fellow (Grade 7)
 
Essential criteria 
 
1.       PhD (or equivalent) in bioinformatics; computer science; or related field 
2.       Proficiency in computer programming 
3.       Background knowledge in statistics 
4.       Proven track record of clear research potential (publications and poster/oral presentation to scientific conferences) 
5.       Experience of managing a research project 
6.       Experience of presenting data and results internally and externally in a timely and organised manner 
7.       Experience of developing novel computational approaches 
8.       Good verbal and written communication skills 
9.       Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail 
10.   Excellent ability to work in a multidisciplinary team 
 
Desirable criteria 
 
1.       Experience in planning and interpreting experiments for hypothesis validation 
2.       Experience of having managed large bioinformatics projects/datasets 
3.       Experience of supervising or mentoring junior members 
4.       Previous experience with NGS and imaging data analysis 
 
* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 
 
Further information
 
For further inquiries, please contact francesca.ciccarelli@crick.ac.uk