Postdoc in Biological Data Systems, Alpha Cell Program

Alpha Cell is a new SciLifeLab program aimed at building the first molecular-level computational model of the human cell. The program is led by Jan Ellenberg Director of SciLifeLab and Mathias Ulhen Director of the Human Protein Atlas together with a collaborative multi-institutional constellation of SciLifeLab researchers and infrastructure units.

TheHuman Protein Atlas(HPA)is a large-scale international effort to map the spatial distribution of proteins in human cells tissues and organs using antibody-based imaging transcriptomics and systems biology approaches. Since its launch the atlas has generated one of the worlds most comprehensive open resources for spatial molecular biology comprising millions of images and extensive molecular measurements. All data are released openly and widely used by researchers worldwide.

The Alpha Cell program is recruiting a postdoctoral in Biological Data Systems to develop scalable data infrastructure and computational systems for large biological datasets. The position will be embedded within the Human Protein Atlas at KTH and SciLifeLab. The successful candidate will work closely with Avlant Nilsson cancer cell modeling lab and Wei Ouyangs AICell lab who together will develop the first foundation cell model based on HPA and other external large-scale datasets.

The role focuses on establishing the data foundations for the programs initial modelling efforts by identifying evaluating integrating and structuring large biological datasets into scalable standardized and AI-ready frameworks for computational modelling. Working in SciLifeLabs highly interdisciplinary environment where imaging molecular data and computational methods are developed in parallel the postdoc will develop systems and services that make biological data accessible to AI and computational tools collaborating closely with the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) team and other researchers to enhance data integration annotation structure and accessibility connect external datasets and support open science and emerging AI-driven workflows.

Requirements

• A doctoral degree in bioinformatics computational biology cell biology with a strong computational component or a closely related field. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Strong understanding of biological datasets and data modalities relevant to cell biology such as imaging transcriptomics proteomics or spatial omics
• Rich experience and track record in using open databases and bioinformatic tools and services.
• Strong programming skills for developing computational tools or data workflows (Python or similar) with good software engineering practice collaborative development experience (e.g. Git/GitHub) and ability to use AI-assisted coding tools effectively.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across experimental computational and infrastructure-focused teams

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Experience working with large heterogeneous datasets
• Experience working with biological datasets such as imaging genomics proteomics or spatial omics
• Experience building scalable or automated data processing workflows
• Experience building APIs or data services for large scientific datasets
• Familiarity with the Model Context Protocol or similar systems for exposing data to AI tools and agents
• Experience developing infrastructure for machine learning workflows
• Experience contributing to open data platforms or large scientific databases
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues with specific focus on gender equality

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

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The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Maximally two pages long.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

The position offered is for at the most two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

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