(Senior) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Generative AI and Closed-loop Discovery

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Salary range: £39,000 - £52,560

You will need to download, save and complete a copy of the application form using Microsoft Word or prepare a copy of your CV that contains all the information requested in the application form.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist (SC6) or Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist (SC5) to join Professor Ke Li's AI for Biology Group in the Research Faculty of the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background

The AI for Biology Group will be newly established at the Earlham Institute (EI), while building on Professor Ke Li’s established and well-funded research programme in fundamental AI, AI co-scientists, and applications in complex scientific domains such as RNA sequence-function modelling, structure prediction, and inverse design.

Further information is available at https://colalab.ai/

At EI, the group will develop an ambitious Generative Digital Biology (GDB) programme, developing multimodal, cross-organism and experimentally grounded AI systems that can learn from biological data, support hypothesis generation, guide experimental design and accelerate discovery across EI's research programmes and technology platforms.

The successful candidate will have access to substantial AI compute, including in-house state-of-the-art H200 GPU servers, alongside further capacity through the Norwich Data Centre and access to national-scale AI compute through Isambard-AI. This provides a strong environment for frontier AI development and evaluation. Collaboration with the Earlham Biofoundry provides routes for model-guided experimental design and, where appropriate, closed-loop self-driving laboratory workflows supported by established lab automation.

The role

We are seeking an ambitious researcher to develop generative AI methods for biological design and closed-loop discovery within a new AI for Biology Group at EI. The successful candidate will create novel AI algorithms that generate and refine biological designs, prioritise experiments, and learn from experimental feedback.

Building on Professor Ke Li’s established research programme, the role focuses on developing new AI methods for scientific discovery rather than simply applying existing approaches. The post offers extensive collaboration across the Institute, supporting AI-guided design-build-test-learn workflows, biological discovery, and the development of open algorithms, benchmarks, and reproducible research.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a frontier AI for Biology programme, publish high-impact research, and contribute to future funding applications.

Appointment will be made at SC6 (Postdoctoral Research Scientist) or SC5 (Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist), according to the candidate's experience and evidence against the published criteria.

Ideal candidate

The successful candidate will have a PhD (awarded or expected within 6 months) in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline.

They will have excellent Python programming skills and practical experience with leading AI frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX or TensorFlow, together with strong expertise in modern AI methods and depth in one or more of generative modelling, reinforcement learning, Bayesian optimisation, active learning, uncertainty quantification, causal modelling, or optimisation in complex search spaces.

Candidates should demonstrate experience developing original AI methods for scientific discovery, design, optimisation or decision-making rather than solely applying existing tools, together with evidence of high-quality research outputs commensurate with career stage. Experience at the interface of AI and biology, including biological foundation models, sequence design, genomics, single-cell data, synthetic biology or drug discovery, would be advantageous.

For appointment at SC5, candidates will additionally be expected to demonstrate experience in closed-loop or active experimental design, or an equivalent sequential decision-making setting with real-world feedback; a strong track record of independent or semi-independent research; the ability to develop and deliver a research direction with limited supervision; clear evidence of leading high-quality outputs; and the ability to coordinate collaborations, support junior researchers, and contribute substantively to publications and grant applications.

Additional information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £39,000 to £46,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience for the SC6 level post, and £47,450 to £52,560 per annum for candidates who meet the SC5 level criteria. This is a full-time post for a contract of 36 months, with possible extension.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 20 August 2026.

Norwich is a city of culture, with its rich history of art and writing, as well as a city of science - hosting some of the leading centres for life science research in the world.

The behaviours and communication skills we expect from candidates.