Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Biology and Machine Learning

Overview

The Chu Lab — Department of Genome Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine

The Chu Lab ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine is seeking to fill Postdoctoral Researcher positions in computational biology and machine learning. The lab develops modern machine learning, generative modeling, and statistical learning frameworks to decipher single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data, with the goal of uncovering cellular and tissue dynamics underlying cancer, inflammation, and tissue senescence.

Successful candidates will lead one or more of the following ongoing projects:

• Developing neural differential equation and continuous‑time dynamical models for spatial and single‑cell transcriptomics to dissect cell–cell interactions and perturbation responses in complex tissue microenvironments.
• Building generative models of single‑cell and spatial data to characterize cellular and tissue heterogeneity in cancer, inflammation, and tissue senescence.
• Developing next‑generation deep‑learning and statistical deconvolution methods for inferring gene regulation from bulk, single‑cell, and spatial‑omics data.

Candidates are also encouraged to develop independent research directions aligned with the lab's interests.

The lab is led by Dr. Tinyi Chu, who joined UVA as Assistant Professor in 2026. Dr. Chu received his Ph.D. in Computational Biology from Cornell University and subsequently completed postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Yale University. His work has appeared as first‑ or co‑first‑author publications in Nature Cancer, Nature Genetics, and Cell Stem Cell, spanning statistical method development, cancer transcriptional regulation, and spatial transcriptomics.

He is the lead developer of widely used open‑source software including Bayes Prism, a Bayesian deconvolution framework selected as a Nature Cancer 2022 highlight. Dr. Chu's research has been recognized by a Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship and is currently supported by an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (NHGRI) and substantial UVA institutional startup funding — providing a strongly resourced environment for ambitious, long‑horizon methodological research.

The Chu Lab is built on the philosophy of "Mentorship as Collaboration," where trainees are valued as scientific collaborators rather than assistants. As a postdoctoral scientist in a newly established lab, you will receive individualized mentorship tailored to your career goals, defined by genuine intellectual exchange, direct technical engagement in algorithm and model development, and shared co‑ownership of the science.

• Active Collaboration. The PI maintains an open‑door policy, meets regularly with trainees, and is deeply involved to support their algorithm and model development.
• Scientific Independence. You will be supported to develop and lead your own research ideas with the freedom and computational resources required to pursue them.
• Grant Writing and Career Transition. Leveraging the PI's recent successful K99/R00 transition, you will receive step‑by‑step training in scientific writing, proposal preparation, and fellowship applications. Postdocs are supported and encouraged to apply for independent fellowships.
• Visibility. Full support for presenting at top‑tier venues spanning machine learning and computational biology, and active assistance in building your professional network across academia and industry.

The Chu Lab is part of a vibrant interdisciplinary research community at UVA, with active collaborations across the UVA School of Medicine. The lab has full access to UVA's high‑performance computing resources and core facilities supporting genomics and imaging.

Charlottesville, Virginia is a highly livable university town nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, known for its excellent quality of life, affordability relative to other U.S. research hubs, and rich cultural and outdoor offerings.

Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Computer Science,…