AVAILABLE POSITIONS

The Aitken Lab is hiring two postdocs (one computational, one experimental) to investigate the causes and consequences of mutational processes in human health and disease. They will be based at the Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale Cancer Center and Department of Pathology at Yale School of Medicine., and work closely with other Aitken Lab members at the University of Cambridge. We are an interdisciplinary team of computational, experimental, and clinician scientists allowing us to generate and analyse complex data from emerging genomic pathology approaches, including CRISPR, single cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and image analysis to address biologically- and clinically-driven questions. Our overall aim is to investigate mechanisms of cellular damage, and to understand their consequences for human health and disease.

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We seek to recruit motivated postdocs to lead projects which aim to understand genome stability and acquired DNA alterations in normal cells and in cancer development. The successful applicants will work independently, perform experiments, develop and optimise assays, and analyse, interpret, and present data. In addition, they will contribute to other Aitken lab projects (Yale and University of Cambridge, UK), and interact with collaborators in the US and Europe. The role holders must have excellent communication skills with a proven track record of interacting effectively within interdisciplinary teams (biologists, clinicians, computer scientists, etc), as well as creativity, curiosity, problem-solving skills.

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#1 Postdoctoral Associate Position – Computational Cancer Biology​

The ideal candidate will have strong programming experience (R, Python, bash); working knowledge in Linux/Unix environments; experience in the analysis of large datasets; and a solid understanding of statistics. The ability to analyse DNA-sequencing data is required (exomes, genomes, duplex sequencing); experience analysing RNA-sequencing data (bulk, single cell, spatial), or other -omics data is beneficial.

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#2 Postdoctoral Associate Position – Cancer Biology and Genomics

​The ideal candidate will have expertise cell and molecular biology in human cell models, cancer biology, and genomics. Experience in genomic instability, DNA damage/repair, and mutagenesis is beneficial. Computational experience is highly desirable but not required. We are also interested in candidates with experience working with human tissue, spatial transcriptomics/genomics, laser capture microdissection, and/or image analysis. 

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Responsibilities include: 

1. Design, execute, and interpret experiments and analyses.

2. Supervision and training of students and staff members.

3. Participation in group meetings, journal clubs, and CMCO seminars.

4. Prepare manuscripts and contribute to grant proposals.

5. Present work at internal and external scientific meetings.

6. Participate in lab organisation, housekeeping, shared tasks.

7. Work with (and establish new) local and international collaborations.

 

Qualifications:

1. PhD or MD-PhD in molecular biology, genetics, biomedicine, bioinformatics, or a related field.

2. Track record of research productivity, supported by first-author publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals (or preprints).

3. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to work productively both independently and within collaborative teams.

 

Application process:

Candidates should email Dr Sarah Aitken with the following:

1.    Cover letter: brief statement of research experience and interests, your motivation to join the Aitken lab, and future career goals.

2.    CV

3.    Contact information (including email address and phone number) for three referees, one of whom should be your most recent line manager.

Please include “Postdoctoral Associate (Computational/Experimental), Your full name” in the subject line.

 

Closing date: We will review applications on a rolling basis.