Group Leader - Generative Biology and AI
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- job requisition id
- JR103313
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
Join the Frontier of Generative Biology and AI - Become a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
At the Wellcome Sanger Institute, we’re shaping the future of biology — and we’re looking for collaborative, creative, and visionary scientists to help lead the way. We’re hiring a new Junior Group Leader to join our pioneering
, where molecular biology meets AI.
Generative Genomics ProgrammeAbout the Programme:
Our mission is bold: to generate data at scale to train the next generation of AI models to make molecular biology predictive and programmable. Our world-class programme merges large-scale data generation with artificial intelligence and cutting-edge synthetic genomics.
You’ll join a group of creative faculty including Ben Lehner,
We’re driving a transformation in biological data generation, design and synthesis. If you’re excited by ambitious science and want to work in an environment that values diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration, we want to hear from you.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking exceptional researchers in one or more of the following areas:
-
Data generation at scale for quantitative protein, RNA and cellular pathway design
-
AI and machine learning for biological design and engineering
-
Generative chemistry and chemical biology at scale
-
Massively parallel design-test cycles for synthetic and generative biology
-
Enzyme engineering and enzyme design
-
Synthetic genomics: genome synthesis and engineering at scale
-
Molecular, biophysical and kinetic characterisation of proteins and RNAs at scale
-
Data generation and model development for sequence-encoded control of gene expression
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is located in the centre of the largest scientific and startup cluster in Europe and combines the scientific innovation of Cambridge with the business and cultural ambition of London. We care about the long-term translation and impact of our research.
We welcome applicants from all career stages, including those from clinical, industry, or non-traditional career paths. We particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe our science is enriched by a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
The Role: Faculty with Vision, long-term funding and scientific freedom
Group Leader 1 positions are designed for scientists establishing their first research group and offer a very substantial core package, including a competitive salary and continuous internal funding that enables the pursuit of ambitious, large-scale research without the need for external grants.
Faculty at the Institute are supported by outstanding scientific, technical, and operational teams, allowing them to focus on impactful research and leadership. You will have the opportunity to mentor and develop a growing team within a supportive and collegial environment where collaboration, well-being, and inclusion are prioritised.
We will also consider applications from later stage researchers in exceptional circumstances. The institute appoints faculty at three levels:
Group Leader 1 (GL1): Your first or second group leader role (equivalent to Assistant Professor US / Lecturer UK). Eight-year post, core funded beyond a typical ERC or R01 grant with additional access to funds for large strategic projects. Launch your vision with the freedom to innovate at scale.
Group Leader 2 (GL2): Mid-career (Associate Professor). Lead a growing core-funded team, shape programme strategy, and drive large-scale discovery. Eight-year post with review in year six.
Senior leadership role (Full Professor) helping to shape Sanger’s long-term research strategy. Ongoing tenure with six-year rolling reviews. Global research leaders are encouraged to apply.
Group Leader 3 (GL3):Why Join Us?
- Substantial, Sustained Core Funding:Focus on the science that matters — not grant cycles. Launch long-term, high-impact research.
- Scale + Technology:Unmatched access to high-throughput science platforms, Scientific Operations, and Informatics infrastructure.
- A Truly Collaborative Culture:Work side-by-side with leading genomics experts in an environment built for cooperation, discovery and translational impact.
- A Supportive, Inclusive, and Flexible Workplace:Relocation and visa support, mentorship, flexible working, family-friendly policies, and a campus dedicated to well-being and scientific excellence.
- A Global Science Hub:Benefit from the dynamic, international, and high-impact innovation landscape of Cambridge and London.
Our faculty and employees benefit from flexible working options, family friendly policies, generous benefits, and comprehensive relocation support.
Application Process:
Your application should include:
1. Curriculum vitae, a complete list of publications and details of three referees
2. A two-page Cover letter summarising your scientific leadership and wider contributions (including diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentorship and public engagement)
3. Research vision addressing a fundamental problem (3 pages + 250-word abstract):
- Fit with our programme (direction, ambition and scale, explaining why Sanger is the right environment)
- What you’ll do that can’t be done elsewhere
Interview Process:
We believe recruitment should be supportive and transparent. You'll meet with teams across science, strategy, and operations to explore Sanger’s full potential. Our process includes:
-
Scientific Talks (past and future research)
-
Panel Interview based on leadership, collaboration, and core behavioural competencies
-
Stakeholder 1:1s with Group Leaders and Programme leads
We understand balancing career opportunities with personal commitments can be challenging, and our process is designed to be flexible and supportive.
Ready to Redefine What’s Possible in Biology?
Join us at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and be part of a transformative, AI-powered future for life sciences. Help build the next era of synthetic genomics in an environment where your science, your voice, and your career are valued.
For further details about the opportunity, please visit: 🔗 Brochure Link
Positions carry a significant core package of salaries and support, which are backed by rewarding and flexible employment terms including excellent benefits and relocation support.
We provide expert in-house advice and guidance on travel and relocation to the UK and beyond. From your initial visa application to extensions and applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, our dedicated Immigration Team is here to support both your personal applications and those of your dependants and family members. As part of the Institute, this team is committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient process throughout your visa journey. For more details on the immigration support available, please visit: Global Mobility and Immigration Service.
⏰ Closing date: 11th January 2026
📅 Interviews: Week commencing 23rd February 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Postdoctoral Fellow - Biodiversity Cell Atlas
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- job requisition id
- JR103380
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) to contribute to the study of the diversity and evolution of cell type programs in Tree of Life programme. This will be a 3 year fixed term contract at Wellcome Sanger Institute.
About the Role:
We offer a computational postdoctoral position to work on the analysis and integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data across highly diverse animal species (e.g. Mollusca, Arthropoda, Cnidaria). The work will involve biologically interpreting, annotating, and comparing scRNA-seq atlases from diverse species using both established and customized methods; leading the efforts to benchmark different technologies for generating spatial transcriptomics data in non-traditional model organisms; and integrating single-cell and spatial datasets to connect cell type diversity with tissue- and organ-level organization across species. The successful candidate will work closely with a senior bioinformatician (in charge of processing datasets and developing pipelines) and with a single-cell transcriptomics specialist in our team (leading the experimental effort).About You:
You are expected to publish excellent research outputs, mentor junior researchers, contribute their specific expertise to other ongoing projects within the Group, Programme or Institute, as well as the broader BCA community, and receive training in research and professional skills form a variety of sources. You will be part of a vibrant, diverse PDF community at the Sanger Institute. We provide PDFs with a wide programme of transferable skills training and excellent career development opportunities. For more information about being a PDF with us, please visit: https://youtu.be/1-vxm2nBmFAEssential Technical Skills:
-
PhD in relevant subject area, or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role
-
Proven ability to work independently and deliver research projects
-
A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
-
Ability to analyse and interpret data with strong quantitative/computational skills
-
Programming and bioinformatics skills
-
Previous experience working on single-cell data analysis
-
Previous experience working on spatial transcriptomics data analysis
Essential Competencies and Behaviours:
-
Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, abilities and knowledge
-
Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
-
Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
-
Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
-
Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
-
Ability to priortise, multi-task and work independently
-
Detailed orientated, strong organizational and problem-solving skills
About Us:
Building on the high-quality genomes generated by the Tree of Life programme, our team is actively implementing single-cell sequencing approaches to systematically generate cell type molecular atlases across organisms. This is part of the broader Biodiversity Cell Atlas initiative (BCA).
Other Information:
Application Process:
Please apply by submitting your CV and a supporting Cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly cover the following three areas:
1. Your background and previous research experience
2. Your relevant skills and how they align with the role
3. Your motivation for applying for this position
Please note: applications without a cover letter addressing all three points will not be considered.
Salary: PDF £38,000 - £49,156 Role profile
Contract Type: 3 years fixed term (Core funding)
Recruitment Process: Shortlisting w/c 5th January, Interviews w/c 12th January or w/c 19th January
Closing Date: 4th January 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- job requisition id
- JR103394
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are seeking a talented and motivated Senior Computational Postdoctoral Fellow to lead the analysis for Project JAGUAR, a landmark multi-country initiative generating one of the world’s most comprehensive single-cell immune transcriptomic resources from diverse Latin American ancestries. This 3-year role sits at the heart of an equitable, international consortium focused on scientific discovery, capacity building, and inclusive collaboration. You will play a key role in advancing large-scale single-cell analysis, shape analytical strategy, and lead a distributed and equitable analysis model involving partners across seven Latin American countries. This position offers a rare chance to work at global scale in a project that is as much about science as it is about capacity building, equity, and reshaping international collaboration. You will work closely with local teams, contribute to training and shared analytical development, and help steward a model that empowers researchers across the region to lead future genomic initiatives.
If you are excited by big data, global partnerships, and impactful questions at the heart of human diversity and immune regulation, we would love to hear from you.
What you'll be doing?
-
Overseeing the end-to-end analysis of a multimillion-cell PBMC scRNA-seq dataset
-
Developing and optimising pipelines for QC, integration, clustering, annotation, and cell-state modelling
-
Performing genetic and ancestry-aware analyses, including regulatory variant mapping and donor-level modelling
-
Coordinating and mentoring analysts across Latin America, ensuring coherent, high-quality, and equitable analytical contributions
-
Driving joint interpretation, reporting, and publication of consortium findings
-
Developing scalable workflows and documentation to support consortium-wide training, reproducibility, and knowledge sharing
-
Contributing to strategic planning for downstream analyses, extensions, and cross-modal integration
About Us:
Project JAGUAR is a major collaborative effort between the
Trynka GroupWe have generated millions of immune single-cell profiles using scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, CITE-seq profiling, and enriched with genotyping, ancestry inference, and general health questionaire metadata. Our collaborative analysis framework is co-developed with analysts in Latin America, ensuring equitable contributions, shared ownership, and long-term capacity building. This model is transforming how international genomics collaborations are designed and delivered. Our goal is to understand how genetic variants and ancestry shape immune function, and to provide a foundation for more equitable and globally representative human genomics.
About You:
You are passionate about scientific discovery and a creative computational scientist with documented experience in leading large scale genomics analysis and a strong interest in single-cell biology, population genetics, and immune regulation. You thrive in collaborative environments, enjoy working across countries and cultures, and take pride in building analytical frameworks that empower others. You bring scientific rigor, curiosity, and the capacity to coordinate complex, distributed projects with clear communication and a supportive approach.Essential Skills:
● Demonstrable experience with single-cell RNA-seq analysis, including QC, integration, clustering, and
annotation
● Proficiency in Python and/or R for large-scale data analysis
● Experience developing reproducible workflows, pipelines, and scalable data-processing frameworks
● Knowledge of population genetics, ancestry inference, or genetic association analyses
● Experience working with high-dimensional datasets and statistical modelling
● Demonstrated ability to lead complex analysis projects and coordinate work across multiple partners or teams
● Proven ability to work independently and deliver research projects
● Excellent communication skills with experience engaging diverse and multicultural research teams
● Experience training, mentoring, or supporting junior analysts or collaborators
● Interest in contributing to capacity building and equitable international science
● PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistical genetics, genomics, or a related field
● Publication record demonstrating experience in high-quality computational research
● Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of
differing levels, abilities and knowledge
● Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
● Demonstrated mentorship, supervision and leadership abilities
● Detailed orientated, strong organisational and problem-solving skills
● Commitment to open, inclusive, and equitable scientific practice
● Demonstrating working proactively
● Ability to creatively solve analytical challenges
Other Information:
For further information, please see role profile.
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience): £43,650 - £49,156
Closing Date: 4th January 2026
Application Process:
Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above.
Interviews to be held in late January 2026.
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Technical Specialist -CRISPR Screening in Neurodegeneration
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- job requisition id
- JR103337
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are seeking a motivated Technical Specialist to join an excellent interdisciplinary team exploring how the immune system responds to and shapes neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). You will perform large-scale phenotypic CRISPRn screens on human iPSC-derived microglia to identify modifiers of immune dysfunction relating to neurodegeneration.
The position is based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute under the leadership of Dr Lewis Evans, and forms part of the Open Targets
collaboration between the Sanger Institute, EBI, University of Oxford, and University of Exeter. This initiative brings together leading experts in human and cellular genetics (Bassett, Bayraktar), stem cell modelling (Cooper, Cowley, Evans), and computational modelling (Lotfollahi, ,Saez-Rodriguez, Strauss) to identify new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.
What you'll be doing:
-
Work with the team to develop and perform large-scale phenotypic CRISPR screens in human iPSC-derived microglia
-
Develop and implement scalable assays to model immune responses and disease-relevant phenotypes in iPSC-based systems
-
Validate genetic modulators of immune responses using biochemical assays and high-content imaging, in collaboration with partner teams
-
Collaborate closely with the groups of Drs Bassett, Cooper, and Prof Cowley, who are developing and characterising disease-relevant iPSC models under genetic and external stressors to identify and test the optimal assays
-
Collaborate with Dr Bayraktar’s group and computational teams led by Drs Strauss, Lotfollahi and Prof Saez-Rodriguez to integrate data you would generate with patient data to prioritise perturbation targets and disease pathways
-
Contribute to a unique, cross-comparative analysis integrating cellular models and patient-derived data to uncover mechanisms of immune dysregulation in neurodegeneration
About Us:
Open Targets (OT) aims to systematically identify and prioritize drug targets by combining genetic, clinical, and functional genomics data. It is a collaborative initiative between the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world-leading genomics institution; the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), a global leader in the management, integration, and analysis of public domain life science data; and world-leading pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, Sanofi, MSD, Pfizer, and Genentech.
About You:
As part of the Open Targets team at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, you’ll join a world-class research environment with access to cutting-edge facilities and mentoring from leading experts across academia and industry. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large-scale, collaborative project at the intersection of genetics, immunology, and neuroscience applying advanced technologies such as CRISPR, iPSC models, single-cell transcriptomics and large-scale phenotypic screening to drive discovery and therapeutic innovation.
Apply now to join a dynamic team advancing our understanding of how immune mechanisms influence neurodegenerative disease and to help shape the next generation of therapeutic discovery.
Essential Skills:
-
Degree, MSc, or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area e.g. Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Molecular Biology or a closely related field
-
Extensive practical experience with core techniques in cell biology (e.g. mammalian cell culture and cellular assays) and molecular biology (e.g. cloning and sequencing)
-
Strict adherence to SOPs and attention to detail when performing routine tasks.
-
Exceptional interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills
-
Ability to develop, troubleshoot, and implement new assays and techniques
-
In-depth knowledge of genome engineering and pooled CRISPR screening
-
Excellent organisational and time management skills and a proven ability to work to tight deadlines
-
Flexible working hours (occasional weekend work required)
-
Proven track record in delivering complex experimental scientific projects.
-
Highly developed problem-solving skills.
-
Excellent prioritisation and time management skills, and ability to organise own workload.
-
Ability to use initiative, troubleshoot and work independently on agreed tasks.
For further information and informal inquiries, please contact Lewis Evans.
Other Information:
For further information, please see role profile.
Contract Length: 18 months
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience): £40,523-£48,143
Application Process:
As part of your application, please:
-
Upload your CV
-
Complete the following
form
Closing Date: 11th January 2026
Interviews are scheduled to take place 27th-29th January 2026.
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Group Leader - Biodiversity Genomics
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- job requisition id
- JR103423
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
Join the Frontier of Biodiversity Genomics - Become a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
At the Wellcome Sanger Institute, we’re shaping the future of biology — and we’re looking for collaborative, creative, and visionary scientists to help lead the way. We’re hiring a new Group Leader to join our pioneering Tree of Life Programme, using advanced genomics to better understand life’s diversity.
About the Programme
Our mission is bold: to generate data at scale to address fundamental questions about the diversity of life at the genomic level. Our world-class programme merges large-scale data generation with focussed analysis of pattern and process in evolution, delivering to overarching goals of conservation of biodiversity, fueling a biotechnological progress and contributing to the health of human societies.
You’ll join a group of creative faculty including Mark Blaxter, Mara Lawniczak,
in the Tree of Life programme, with strong links across the Institute’s other research programmes (
Kamil Jaron Cellular Genetics Human Genetics Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation Parasites and Microbes Generative Genomics Scientific Operations Informatics and Digital SolutionsWe’re driving a transformation in the quality and availability of reference genomes across biodiversity, and in the use of these genomes in understanding biological evolution. If you’re excited by ambitious science and want to work in an environment that values diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration, we want to hear from you.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking an exceptional researcher whose ambitions depend on diverse eukaryotic genomes and large scale analysis. We anticipate recruiting in one of the following areas:
- Cell atlasing across biodiversity:Theis a growing initiative that aims to use the technologies pioneered by the Human Cell Atlas (and colleagues in the Cellular Genetics Programme at Sanger) to profile species across the eukaryotic tree using single cell functional genomics methods to reveal cell-type orthology, discover the origins of distinct cell types and reveal the regulatory systems that generate this diversity.Biodiversity Cell Atlas
- Phylogenomics at megascale:devising algorithms, engineering toolkits and reconstructing phylogenetic relationships of genes and species, exploiting the power of reference quality genomes
- Biodiversity AI:Deploying AI to discover fundamental rules of genome organisation across diversity, including gene structure and regulatory system prediction
- Direct application of biodiversity genomics datain conservation, landscape ecology, bioengineering or any other field with clear impact on ongoing problems humanity is facing
If you are not sure whether your research objectives would fit into the Tree of Life, please do get in touch with Mark Blaxter mb35@sanger.ac.uk to clarify.
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is located in the centre of the largest scientific and startup cluster in Europe and combines the scientific innovation of Cambridge with the business and cultural ambition of London. We care about the long-term translation and impact of our research.
We welcome applicants from clinical, industry, or non-traditional career paths. We particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe our science is enriched by a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
The Role: Faculty with Vision, long-term funding and scientific freedom
We intend to recruit at the Group Leader 2 (equivalent to associate professor) or Group Leader 3 (equivalent to full professor) level. These positions are designed for established scientists and offer a very substantial core package, including a competitive salary and continuous internal funding that enables the pursuit of ambitious, large-scale research without the need for external grants.
Faculty at the Institute are supported by outstanding scientific, technical, and operational teams, allowing them to focus on impactful research and leadership. You will have the opportunity to mentor and develop a growing team within a supportive and collegial environment where collaboration, well-being, and inclusion are prioritised.
The institute appoints senior faculty at two levels:
Group Leader 2 (GL2): Mid-career (Associate Professor). Lead a growing core-funded team, shape programme strategy, and drive large-scale discovery. Eight-year post with review in year six leading to promotion to GL3 or departure by year 8.
Group Leader 3 (GL3):
Senior leadership role (Full Professor) helping to shape Sanger’s long-term research strategy. Ongoing appointment with six-year rolling reviews. Global research leaders are encouraged to apply.
Why Join Us?
- Substantial, Sustained Core Funding:Focus on the science that matters, not grant cycles. Launch long-term, high-impact research.
- Scale + Technology:Unmatched access to high-throughput science platforms, Scientific Operations, and Informatics infrastructure.
- A Truly Collaborative Culture:Work side-by-side with leading genomics experts in an environment built for cooperation, discovery and translational impact.
- A Supportive, Inclusive, and Flexible Workplace:Relocation and visa support, mentorship, flexible working, family-friendly policies, and a campus dedicated to well-being and scientific excellence.
- A Global Science Hub:Benefit from the dynamic, international, and high-impact innovation landscape of Cambridge and London.
Our faculty and employees benefit from flexible working options, family-friendly policies, generous benefits, and comprehensive relocation support.
Application Process:
Your application should include:
1. CV and full publication list + 3 referees
2. Cover letter summarising your scientific leadership and wider contributions (including diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentorship and public engagement)
3. Research vision addressing a fundamental problem (3 pages + 250-word abstract) demonstrating
- Fit with our programme (direction, ambition and scale, explaining why Sanger is the right environment)
- What you’ll do at Sanger that can’t be done elsewhere
Interview Process
We believe recruitment should be supportive and transparent. You'll meet with teams across science, strategy, and operations to explore Sanger’s full potential. Our process includes:
-
Scientific Talks (on past and future research)
-
Panel Interview based on leadership, collaboration, and core behavioural competencies
-
Stakeholder 1:1 meetings with Group Leaders and Programme leads
We understand balancing career opportunities with personal commitments can be challenging, and our process is designed to be flexible and supportive.
Ready to Redefine What’s Possible in Biology?
Join us at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and be part of a transformative, AI-powered future for life sciences. Help build the next era of synthetic genomics in an environment where your science, your voice, and your career are valued.
For further details about the opportunity, please visit: 🔗 Brochure link
We provide expert in-house advice and guidance on travel and relocation to the UK and beyond. From your initial visa application to extensions and applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, our dedicated Immigration Team is here to support both your personal applications and those of your dependants and family members. As part of the Institute, this team is committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient process throughout your visa journey. For more details on the immigration support available, please visit: Global Mobility and Immigration Service.
⏰ Closing date: 08 February 2026
📅 Interviews: Week commencing 16th March 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Similar Jobs (4)
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted 30+ Days Ago
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Postdoctoral Fellow- Computational Biology and Machine Learning
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- job requisition id
- JR103417
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow/Senior Postdoctoral Fellow to join our interdisciplinary team at the forefront of computational biology and AI for a 3 year fixed term contract. You will contribute to (lead - Senior Postdoctoral Fellow) transformative projects that integrate single-cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, and generative AI to build next-generation models for understanding tissue biology and cellular dynamics across organs such as the pancreas, kidney, skin, and liver.
We welcome applicants from diverse technical and scientific backgrounds — from those interested in fundamental questions in biology and medicine, to those focused on ML/AI method development. We are particularly excited to work with individuals who are passionate about biology, foundation model development, modelling cellular perturbation responses, predicting patient behaviours, and analysing multi-modal biological data.
Available Research Focus Areas:
1. Spatial & Multi-omics Atlas Construction
Build large-scale spatial and single-cell atlases across diseased tissues (pancreas, kidney, skin, liver) using spatial transcriptomics, scRNA-seq, and multiome data in collaboration with leading Sanger groups.2. Generative AI for Cell Fate & Perturbations
Develop diffusion, flow-matching, and transformer-based generative models to predict cell fate, tissue remodelling, and drug or perturbation responses in silico.3. Foundational Models for Single-Cell Biology
Train large, generalizable deep models across public and internal datasets to support the Human Cell Atlas and broad Sanger research programs.4. Open Targets Translational AI Projects
Apply foundational and multi-omics models to real-world challenges in drug discovery, target identification, and target safety in collaboration with major pharma partners.5. Agentic AI for Scientific Reasoning & Experiment Design (new)
Develop AI agents capable of hypothesis generation, experiment planning, and multi-step scientific workflows using reinforcement learning and tool-use models.6. Core Machine Learning Research
Advance fundamental ML methods—including advanced generative modelling, scalable training algorithms, representation learning, and uncertainty modelling—tailored for biological data.7. Multimodal Learning (Imaging + Genomics + Clinical Data)
Create models that integrate histopathology imaging, spatial proteomics, single-cell genomics, and patient-level clinical data to learn unified biological and clinical representations
8. Leap Project - We are interested in developing large-scale AI models to stratify patients using diverse multi-omics data, with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion, particularly in women’s health. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with Roser Vento-Tormo at the Sanger Institute
The Open Targets (OT) research programme generates and analyses data to connect targets to diseases, assess the strength of this evidence, and help identify and prioritise targets for drug discovery. This includes evidence that causally links targets and diseases, as well as foundational data that helps us understand biological processes and disease progression more deeply.
About Us:
You will join the Lotfollahi Group, an interdisciplinary team of ML researchers, computational biologists, clinicians and experimentalists. Our mission is to develop data-driven and biologically grounded AI tools for decoding complex cellular systems. We collaborate closely with the Human Cell Atlas, Sanger's single-cell programs, and international leaders in the field.
Key Publications and References:
Akbar Nejat et al.,
Mapping and reprogramming human tissue microenvironments with MintFlow(bioRxiv, 2025)Birk et al.,
Quantitative characterization of cell niches in spatially resolved omics data,Nature Genetics(2025)Jeong et al.,
SIGMMA: Hierarchical Graph-Based Multi-Scale Multi-modal Contrastive Alignment of Histopathology Image and Spatial Transcriptome(arXiv, 2025)Sanian et al.,
3D-Guided Scalable Flow Matching for Generating Volumetric Tissue Spatial Transcriptomics from Serial Histology(arXiv, 2025)
What We Offer:
-
Access to unique in-house datasets and world-class computational infrastructure
-
Opportunities to co-lead publications and present at ML and genomics conferences
-
Collaborative and inclusive environment with strong mentorship culture
-
Access to internal training, workshops, and career development resources through our
Postdoctoral Fellow Programme.
About You:
We are looking for enthusiastic researchers with a strong computational or quantitative background.
Essential Skills:
-
PhD in relevant subject area, or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role
-
Proven ability to deliver research projects
-
A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
-
Experience in advanced statistical techniques, machine learning and modern deep learning techniques
-
Experience with single-cell omics, spatial transcriptomics, or large-scale biological data integration
-
Knowledge of Python, including core-data science libraries such as Sci-Kit-Learn, SciPy, TensorFlow and PyTorch
-
Knowledge of software development good practices and collaboration tools, including git-based version control, python package management and code
-
Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, abilities and knowledge
-
Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
-
Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
-
Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
-
Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
-
Ability to priortise, multi-task and work independently
-
Detailed orientated, strong organizational and problem-solving skills
Additional Skills for Senior Postdoctoral Fellow:
-
Strong knowledge of Python, including core data science libraries such as Scikit-Learn, SciPy, Tensorflow and PyTorch
-
Proven experience using advanced statistical statistical techniques, machine learning and modern deep learning techniques
-
Proven ability to work independently and deliver research projects
-
Relevant solid publication record in either machine learning or application of machine learning in biology
-
Strong influencing skills to engage with internal and external stakeholders
-
Critical and analytic thinking around problems
-
Demonstrable good time management and project management skills
Other Information:
For further details, please see role profiles for Postdoctoral Fellow and for Senior Postdoctoral Fellow.
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience):
Postdoctoral Fellow - £38,000-£49,156
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow - £43,650 - £49,156
Application Process:
Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your research experience, interest in the focus area(s), and future aspirations.
Closing Date: 1st February 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Similar Jobs (4)
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted 3 Days Ago
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Postdoctoral Fellow/ Senior PDF - Biodiversity Cell Atlas
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- job requisition id
- JR103419
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are hiring Postdoctoral Fellow/Senior Postdoctoral Fellow across experience levels to contribute to the study of the diversity and evolution of cell type programs in Tree of Life programme. This will be a 3 year fixed term contract at Wellcome Sanger Institute.
About the Role:
We offer a computational postdoctoral/ senior position to work on the analysis and integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data across highly diverse animal species (e.g. Mollusca, Arthropoda, Cnidaria). The work will involve biologically interpreting, annotating, and comparing scRNA-seq atlases from diverse species using both established and customized methods; leading the efforts to benchmark different technologies for generating spatial transcriptomics data in non-traditional model organisms; and integrating single-cell and spatial datasets to connect cell type diversity with tissue- and organ-level organization across species. The successful candidate will work closely with a senior bioinformatician (in charge of processing datasets and developing pipelines) and with a single-cell transcriptomics specialist in our team (leading the experimental effort).About You:
You are expected to publish excellent research outputs, mentor junior researchers, contribute their specific expertise to other ongoing projects within the Group, Programme or Institute, as well as the broader BCA community, and receive training in research and professional skills form a variety of sources. You will be part of a vibrant, diverse PDF community at the Sanger Institute. We provide PDFs with a wide programme of transferable skills training and excellent career development opportunities. For more information about being a PDF with us, please visit: https://youtu.be/1-vxm2nBmFAEssential Technical Skills:
-
PhD in relevant subject area, or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role
-
Proven ability to work independently and deliver research projects
-
A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
-
Ability to analyse and interpret data with strong quantitative/computational skills
-
Programming and bioinformatics skills
-
Previous experience working on single-cell data analysis
-
Previous experience working on spatial transcriptomics data analysis
Essential Competencies and Behaviours:
-
Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, abilities and knowledge
-
Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
-
Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
-
Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
-
Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
-
Ability to priortise, multi-task and work independently
-
Detailed orientated, strong organizational and problem-solving skills
About Us:
Building on the high-quality genomes generated by the Tree of Life programme, our team is actively implementing single-cell sequencing approaches to systematically generate cell type molecular atlases across organisms. This is part of the broader Biodiversity Cell Atlas initiative (BCA).
Other Information:
Application Process:
Please apply by submitting your CV and a supporting Cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly cover the following three areas:
1. Your background and previous research experience
2. Your relevant skills and how they align with the role
3. Your motivation for applying for this position
Please note: applications without a cover letter addressing all three points will not be considered.
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience):
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow: £43,650-£49,156 Role Profile
Postdoctoral Fellow: £38,000-£49,156 Role profile
Contract Type: 3 years fixed term (Core funding)
Recruitment Process: Shortlisting w/c 5th January, Interviews w/c 12th January or w/c 19th January
Closing Date: 4th January 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Similar Jobs (3)
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted 3 Days Ago
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Postdoctoral Fellow/ Senior PDF - Microbial Genomics and Evolutionary Epidemiology
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- job requisition id
- JR103447
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are hiring three Postdoctoral Fellows/Senior Postdoctoral Fellows on three-year contracts across experience levels to build a new interdisciplinary team at the forefront of microbial genomics and evolutionary epidemiology. Each will lead innovative projects across different aspects of pathogen genomics, integrating large-scale metagenomic, surveillance, immunological and experimental datasets with novel methodologies to improve our abilities to prevent and treat disease. You will join the Parasites and Microbes Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
We welcome applications from diverse technical and scientific backgrounds — from those interested in bacterial genome biology, to those focused on mathematical modelling or application of deep learning approaches. Applicants should be enthusiastic about data analysis, evolutionary biology, and genomic epidemiology. If you would like to be considered for more than one position, please submit a single application, and let us know which roles interest you in your cover letter.
Available Research Focus Areas:
1. Automating pathogen-agnostic genomic epidemiology analyses
This role will focus on integrating available sequence data with domain-specific knowledge and statistical methods to generate methods for automating inference across bacterial genomic epidemiology datasets. The most relevant publications are Lees et al,
Croucher, and
et al et al2. Analysing bacterial populations and interactions
This role will focus on using genomic, metagenomic and immunological data to understand the dynamics of multi-strain bacterial populations, with the using an improved understanding of pathogen-pathogen and host-pathogen interactions to inform improvements in vaccine design. The most relevant publications are Tonkin-Hill et al,
Colijnand
et al et al3. Modelling microbial population dynamics
This role will focus on mathematical modelling of genomic and metagenomic data to analyse dynamic systems, including evolving genomes, bacterial communities, and health systems. This position will suit an individual with a strong quantitative or computational background. The most relevant publications are Croucher et al,
Coranderand
et al at elAbout You:
We are looking for enthusiastic researchers with a strong biological, computational or quantitative backgrounds, and experience in one or more of the following:
Essential Technical Skills (See role profiles below for specific required skills)
-
Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Biology, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, ML/AI, Genomics or Statistics, or a related field; or to be on track to be awarded your Ph.D. within 6 months of starting the role
-
Experience of writing code in R and/or Python, including experience of developing open source for research projects
-
Experience of mutagenesis and genetic screens in bacteria
-
Experience of analysing bacterial genomics data
-
Background in epidemiology, microbiology or evolutionary biology
Essential Competencies and Behaviours:
-
Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, ability and knowledge
-
Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
-
Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
-
Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work independently
-
Detailed orientated, strong organisational and problem-solving skills
-
Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
Additional Skills for Senior Postdoctoral Fellow:
-
Substantial previous post-doctoral experience, and published evidence of research and/or being awarded funding in a relevant field
-
Sufficient experience of the research field to immediately begin driving the programme
-
Proven ability to work independently, formulate research questions, and deliver research projects
-
Demonstrable good time management and project management skills
About Us:
This position is based in the Bacterial Genomics and Evolution team at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world-leading research group investigating the use of computational and experimental genomic approaches to explore questions of basic science relating to the evolution and spread of bacterial pathogens in both humans and animals.
You will join an interdisciplinary team of microbiologists, bioinformaticians and modellers. Our mission is to use a genomics-driven innovation to transform our understanding of bacterial evolution to better control, prevent and treat infectious diseases. We will collaborate across programmes, and are keen to recruit individuals with a broad interest in genome biology.
What We Offer:
Access to
unique in-house datasetsandworld-class computational infrastructure-
Opportunities to co-lead high-impact publications and present at top ML and genomics conferences
-
Collaborative and inclusive environment with strong mentorship culture
-
Access to internal training, workshops, and career development resources through our
Postdoctoral Fellow Programme
Other Information:
Application Process
Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your research experience, interest in the focus area(s), and future aspirations, and how you meet the criteria set out above. Applications without a cover letter addressing the above will not be considered.
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience)
- Senior Postdoctoral Fellow:£43,650–£49,156
Senior Role Profile_Data Science – [
click here]Senior Role Profile_Genome Biology – [
click here]Senior Role Profile_Mathematical Modelling – [
click here]
- Postdoctoral Fellow:£38,000–£49,156
PDF Role Profile_Data Science – [
click here]PDF Role Profile_Genome Biology – [
click here]PDF Role Profile_Mathematical Modelling – [
click here]
Contract Type
3 years fixed term (Core funding)
📅 Recruitment Process
-
Shortlisting: w/c 5th January
-
Interviews: w/c 12th January or w/c 19th January
⏰Closing date: 4th January 2026
For more information on role-specific details, please contact: TA-team@sanger.ac.uk
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Similar Jobs (5)
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted 5 Days Ago
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted 8 Days Ago
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.
Group Leaders- Human Genetics and Disease Prediction
- locations
- Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- job requisition id
- JR103433
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
Join the Frontier of Human Genomics and Disease Prediction
Become a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
At the Wellcome Sanger Institute, we’re rethinking how human data can be used to understand, predict and ultimately change the course of disease. We’re hiring Group Leaders to join our Human Genetics Programme where large-scale cohorts, longitudinal multi-omics and patient data come together to power predictive models of health and disease.
About the Programme
Our mission is bold: to generate the datasets, build the predictive models and develop the causal understanding needed to predict, prevent and treat human disease. We design and generate large-scale, longitudinal multi-omic resources, tightly linked to detailed patient data, and use these to understand how genetic and environmental variation shape molecular states, trajectories and outcomes. We will use AI, machine learning, and robust causal inference methods to turn that understanding into better risk prediction, diagnosis and treatment, deriving openly accessible predictive models that are generalisable and transferable between populations and clinical contexts.
You’ll join a group of creative faculty comprising Carl Anderson, Emma Davenport, Matthew Hurles, Hilary Martin and Gosia Trynka, with strong links across the Institute’s diverse programmes — Cellular Genomics, Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation,
The programme offers sustained core funding, large-scale technology and informatics platforms and a genuinely collaborative, supportive working environment in the Cambridge–London science hub. If you’re excited by our ambitious mission and want to make a bold, personal contribution to it in an environment that values diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration, we want to hear from you.
Who We’re Looking For:
We welcome applications from researchers with backgrounds in clinical medicine, human genetics, genomics and multi-omics, epidemiology, statistics, computer science, clinical informatics and AI/ML. We are keen to hear from both clinician scientists and non-clinical/basic scientists. We do not expect any individual to span all of the areas below; we are looking for depth and originality in one or more of them, together with a strong commitment to collaboration.
You might, for example, have expertise in:
-
Human genetics and multi-omics for complex traits and diseases.
-
Epidemiology and longitudinal cohort design and analysis.
-
Electronic health records and real-world data science, including phenotyping and data linkage.
-
Causal inference and statistical methods for target and biomarker prioritisation.
-
Development and application of AI/ML and predictive modelling methods using multi-omic and clinical data.
-
Methods and resources for diverse and under-represented populations, improving equity and generalisability of prediction
-
Statistical and computational methods, data platforms and standards that make large-scale multi-omic and clinical data, and the resulting models, robust and widely usable.
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is located in the centre of the largest scientific and startup cluster in Europe and combines the scientific innovation of Cambridge with the business and cultural ambition of London. We care about the long-term translation and impact of our research.
We welcome applicants from all career stages, including those from clinical, industry, or non-traditional career paths. We particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe our science is enriched by a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
The Role: Faculty with vision, long-term funding and scientific freedom.
We are recruiting Group Leaders across all our Faculty levels. Our Group Leader positions offer access to substantial core funding, including a competitive salary and continuous internal funding that enables the pursuit of ambitious, large-scale research.
Faculty at the Institute are supported by outstanding scientific, technical, and operational teams, allowing them to focus on impactful research and leadership. You will have the opportunity to mentor and develop a team within a supportive and collegial environment where collaboration, well-being, and inclusion are prioritised.
The institute appoints faculty at three levels:
Group Leader 1 (GL1):Your first or second group leader role (equivalent to Assistant Professor US / Lecturer UK). Eight-year post, core funded beyond a typical ERC or R01 grant with additional access to funds for large strategic projects. Launch your vision with the freedom to innovate at scale.
Group Leader 2 (GL2): Mid-career (Associate Professor). Lead a growing core-funded team, shape programme strategy, and drive large-scale discovery. Six-year post with review in year six.
Group Leader 3 (GL3): Senior leadership role (Full Professor) helping to shape Sanger’s long-term research strategy. Ongoing tenure with six-year rolling reviews. Global research leaders are encouraged to apply.
Why Join Us?
- Substantial, Sustained Core Funding: Focus on the science that matters — not grant cycles. Launch long-term, high-impact research.
-Unmatched access to high-throughput science platforms, Scientific Operations, and Informatics infrastructure.
Scale + Technology:-Work side-by-side with leading genomics experts in an environment built for cooperation, discovery and translational impact.
A Truly Collaborative Culture:-Relocation and visa support, mentorship, flexible working, family-friendly policies, and a campus dedicated to well-being and scientific excellence.
A Supportive, Inclusive, and Flexible Workplace:-Benefit from the dynamic, high-impact innovation landscape of Cambridge and London.
A Global Science Hub:
Our faculty and employees benefit from flexible working options, family friendly policies, generous benefits, and comprehensive relocation support.
Application Essentials:
Your application should include:
-
A CV and a full publication list
-
A two-page cover letter summarising:
-
Your scientific and leadership achievements to date
-
Your contribution to the wider research community and society, you may wish to include diversity and inclusion initiatives and public engagement events
-
A three page outline of your future research plans indicating how these fit with the Human Genetics Programme, and the wider Institute. This should include how access to genomics at scale would transform your science. Please include a short abstract at the start of this document (no more than 250 words) summarising your plans.
-
Please upload all documentation with your application
Your application will be reviewed and considered across GL1, GL2 and GL3 faculty levels focusing on your scientific achievement, experience, and personal suitability in line with our core behavioural competencies; collaboration, communication, leadership, integrity, results-driven, and innovation.
Interview Process:
We believe recruitment should be supportive and transparent. You'll meet with teams across science, strategy, and operations to explore Sanger’s full potential. Our process includes:
- Scientific Talks (past and future research)
- Panel Interview based on leadership, collaboration, and core behavioural competencies and values
- Stakeholder 1:1s with Group Leaders and Programme leads
We understand balancing career opportunities with personal commitments can be challenging, and our process is designed to be flexible and supportive.
Ready to Change How We Predict and Prevent Human Disease?
Join us at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and help build the next generation of human genetic and longitudinal multi-omic resources and predictive models, in an environment where your science, your judgement and your career are supported and valued.
⏰ Closing date: 15th March 2026📅 Interviews: April 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
About Us
Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.
Benefits
We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.
Visa Sponsorship
Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.