PostDoc in Computational Biology: Study crosstalk tumor and immune system

Post Doc in Computational Biology:
Study of the crosstalk between the tumor and immune system in metastatic colorectal cancer

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting‑edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well‑being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

The group Multi‑omics for Healthcare materials at Empa St. Gallen generates and integrates multi‑modal biomedical datasets with the aim to inform development of new sensors, support nanoparticle‑based cellular reprogramming strategies and identify new omics‑based biomarkers. We work closely with clinical partners and we focus on deep understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease development.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with genuine interest in biomedicine and a strong proficiency in data analysis. In this project, we study how tumor‑intrinsic genetic alterations and spatially organized microenvironmental niches jointly shape metastatic progression and therapy response in colorectal cancer. The project is strongly oriented towards clinical applications and identification of new therapeutic avenues.

The key responsibilities include:

• Working closely with interdisciplinary project partners
• Integrating newly generated datasets with multi‑omics profiles of tumors from previous studies
• Developing new machine learning models through collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Centre
• Establishing data analysis pipelines, writing manuscripts and presenting at scientific conferences

Required qualifications include a PhD degree in computational biology or a related field. We are looking for a research‑driven and results‑oriented team player. Ideal profile includes following competencies and experience:

• Strong programming skills, deep statistical knowledge and a proven track record with machine learning
• Solid knowledge of tumor biology, signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment
• Strong publication record
• Fluency in English and excellent communication and writing skills
• Experience in the analysis of single‑cell and spatial transcriptomics datasets is desirable

This project was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and it allows close collaboration with the team of leading experts in the field as well as access to rich datasets generated on valuable clinical samples. The post‑doctoral fellow will be located in St. Gallen at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologies (Empa) with often visits to collaborators in Zurich.

The fellow will also be affiliated with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.

We offer outstanding conditions for excelling in the field of computational biology and translational biomedical research. Empa offers excellent infrastructure, support with high performance computing, international and interdisciplinary environment and highly competitive salaries. The position is available upon agreement with a planned duration of two to four years.

We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities – that’s what counts.