Research Fellow in Cancer Evolution

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The role

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for a (up-to) 3-year position to work on an exciting project funded by the Medical Research Council and led by Dr Bingxin Lu.   

This project aims to reconstruct the evolutionary dynamics of chromosomal instability in cancer genomes.  Understanding how chromosomal instability evolves during the progression from precancerous lesions to malignancy, metastasis, and treatment resistance is important for cancer detection and treatment. Building upon our previously published method, CNETML (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-023-02983-0), this project will develop more realistic evolutionary models of copy number alterations and better phylogenetic inference methods with wider applicability. The developed methods will then be applied to extensive publicly available datasets to investigate the dynamics of chromosomal instability. Our new methods will enhance the toolkit for cancer researchers and drive broader applications of cancer phylogenetic inference. The insights gained from the inferences will also support personalized therapy and advance public health efforts.

The successful candidate will not only design and conduct the research but also write and communicate results as scientific papers and in scientific presentations at national and international conferences. 

About you

The successful candidate will have a strong research background and should have a PhD (or close to completion) in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, or related fields that include a substantial amount of computing and mathematical/statistical modelling, ideally related to phylogenetic method development. Working knowledge in genomics, evolutionary biology, cancer biology, or population genetics is desirable. Experience in programming is essential. 

How to apply

Please submit your cover letter, CV, and contact of three references with your application on the University of Surrey Website.

For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Bingxin Lu b.lu@surrey.ac.uk.

The University of Surrey reserves the right to close this vacancy early based on Volume and Calibre of applications.

Closing Date: 30 Apr 2025

Area: Research & Teaching

Salary: £37,174 to £39,355 per annum