Postdoctoral positions in predictive modelling of antibiotic resistance spread

Career Opportunities:
Postdoctoral positions in predictive modelling of antibiotic resistance spread (22755)

Requisition
22755
–Posted–Type of position (1)–Area of Activity (1)–Rate of Participation (1)–Faculty / Service (1)–Personnel Category (1)

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

We are looking for two postdoctoral researchers to join our team at the intersection of evolutionary theory, microbial ecology and public health. We use mathematical and statistical modelling to draw insights from genomic and epidemiological data; address problems in public health; and answer fundamental questions about bacterial ecology and evolution.

Join us in developing approaches to predicting the spread of antibiotic resistance at the host population scale. We are interested in translating fundamental evolutionary insights into robust predictions about the real-world behaviour of resistance frequencies. We are looking for researchers to collaboratively shape this project through several possible directions:

• Epidemiological modeling
  :
  Developing hybrid mechanistic‑statistical models of resistance dynamics.
• Data‑driven prediction
  :
  Using statistical modeling, causal inference, or machine learning to forecast resistance trends.
• Fitness estimation
  :
  Inferring the fitness impacts of resistance determinants using surveillance and genomic data.

The Evolutionary Epidemiology group is based at the University of Lausanne’s Computational Biology Department. We are also affiliated with the NCCR Microbiomes, providing fantastic opportunities for collaborations with experimental, clinical and other modelling groups. The group is very friendly, with people from diverse backgrounds working on a range of projects relating to microbial evolution and dynamics.

We’re looking for curious, collaborative and thoughtful researchers. The envisioned topic is antibiotic resistance, but there is some flexibility: if you are interested in other aspects of evolutionary epidemiology, don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you like our papers, we want to hear from you!

Duration: 2 years (initial contract for 1 year, but funding is available for 2 years).

Potential for further extension depending on funding.

Start date:

ideally September 2026, but there is flexibility in both directions.

Workplace:
University of Lausanne, Dorigny.

A PhD in a relevant topic, such as infectious disease modelling, computational biology, physics, or statistics.

Expertise in either mathematical modelling (including model fitting), statistical modelling or machine learning.

An interest in public health and antibiotic resistance.

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

An exciting opportunity to shape your research in a supportive and stimulating environment.

Exceptional scope for collaboration through e.g. the NCCR Microbiomes network.

Access to top‑notch resources and possibilities for independent funding and fellowships.

Excellent support for further learning and professional development.

Plenty of opportunities to attend conferences and to build your scientific network.

Attractive salary, beautiful location and excellent quality of life in a great city.

UNIL is committed to:

• Equality, diversity and inclusion within its community.
• Ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development.
• Offering working conditions that facilitate work‑life balance.
• Supporting early career researchers.