Vac_103_2024 - Postdoctoral Researcher_Bioinformatics

Your mission The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) is a comprehensive  cancer research center dedicated to conduct research and drive innovation in the epidemiological, preventive, clinical, translational, and basic aspects of leukemia and other hematologic malignancies, with the final aim of finding a cure for these diseases.
It was created in 2010, and since then has experienced an exponential growth.
The IJC is also part of the network of Excellence Research Centers of Catalonia ( CERCA ) and was accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in 2024.
Since 2018, the Institute has also been accredited by the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer ( FCAECC ) Additionally, IJC is one of the centers integrated into the Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) accreditation as Accredited Health Research Institute (IIS) by the Carlos III Health Institute  (ISCIII) .
The IJC's main headquarters is located within the Can Ruti Biomedical Campus, alongside other leading biomedical institutions, providing direct access to cutting-edge scientific and technological facilities, as well as complementary community services.
The IJC has  six locations integrated into reference hospitals : Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Clínic, Hospital Sant Pau, Hospital Trueta, Hospital del Mar and Hospital San Joan de Déu.
This facilitates close collaboration between basic and clinical researchers, fostering translational research that integrates basic science with clinical practice in clinical settings.
We are looking to fill in a  BIOINFORMATICS POSTDOCTORAL POSITION  in Blood Stem Cell Identity group, led by Dr. Vincenzo Calvanese.
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:   Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are a life-saving therapy for leukemia, and found broadened applications to gene and cell therapy against other cancers, genetic, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.
Yet, practical limitations, such as donor-matching or insufficient cell number render these therapies unfeasible or unsuccessful for many patients.
Attempts to overcome these limitations have been unable to create a reliable source of HSC for patients: while we can generate human HSC from pluripotent stem cells, they resemble early development stages, lacking many of the functional maturation hallmarks.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will join a team to work on a Project to identify identifying transcriptional regulation mechanisms that sustains HSC self-renewal, and their relevance for the establishment and maintenance of the leukemia stem cell population in the context of blood cancer.
To dissect the nature and function of these cells, we use a combination of epigenomics and transcriptomics, on cell lines and human primary tissues, combining in vitro and in vivo models of human normal and leukemic development.
This work will provide important advances in our understanding of human blood stem cell biology in the context of normal and neoplastic hematopoiesis.
Analyze complex NGS datasets from bulk and single-cell experiments, including RNA-seq, CITE-seq, Cut&Tag, ATAC-seq, Hi-C, spatial transcriptomics and cellular barcoding, to uncover meaningful biological insights from hematopoietic cells and tissues.
Coordinate with team members and collaborators to extract the maximum biological information from datasets, ensuring smooth communication and integration of expertise.
Train and guide junior team members, fostering standardized and rigorous approaches to bioinformatics analysis within the group.
Design and refine bioinformatics pipelines for data processing and integration, incorporating cutting-edge methods such as AI-driven tools.
Support data visualization by generating clear, publication-ready visualizations and assisting in the preparation of final data presentation materials.
Oversee the management of data and code repositories, ensuring they are well-organized, accessible, and ready for internal and external use.
Develop and maintain web-based tools and interfaces for intuitive exploration of datasets, making data accessible to collaborators and non-expert users.
Your profile WHAT WE NEED:   PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Informatics applied to Life Sciences or similar.
Experience in bulk and single-cell NGS analysis, including genomics, transcriptomics, multiomics.
A proven track record of peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, collaborations.
Expert knowledge of bash programming, Unix/Linux, R, Python and other relevant environments.
Experience with software version control or HPC environments (SLURM)  Experience with advanced statistics/machine learning/computational modeling (highly desirable).
Solid knowledge of cellular and molecular biology.
A background on stem cells, or tissue/cancer biology is highly desirable.
Strong motivation and excellent organizational skills.
Ability to work with the team members and to provide support in data analysis-related aspects.
Excellent spoken and written English (please submit all documentation in English).
Independent thinking, enthusiasm, pro-activity, impeccable work ethics and professionalism.
Commitment to an equity, diversity, and inclusion-based, international working environment.
Why us?
WHAT WE OFFER   Full-time Postdoctoral Contract : (3 years) linked to the grant ATR2023-143555 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033.
Competitive Salary: Aligned with the candidate's qualifications and experience.
Benefits: annual leave, personal days and flexible working hours, kindergarten ticket other flexible retribution systems.
Free language and career development courses and other initiatives.
Innovative Environment: Join a dynamic, international, multidisciplinary and forward-thinking lab, recently established with the support of UE (ERC-CoG), Wellcome, FJC, and Spanish government funding.
Collaborative Team: Work alongside a diverse and inclusive team of scientists at various training and experience levels, fostering mutual support, constructive feedback, and productive collaboration.
Cutting-Edge Research: Contribute to pioneering research within the inspiring setting of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute.
Exceptional Location: Benefit from the vibrant scientific and cultural atmosphere of the Barcelona metropolitan area.
Deadline DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS   Please submit your application by January 31th, 2025.
About us What makes us different?
The mission of the Josep Carreras Institute is to conduct research and drive innovation in the epidemiological, preventive, clinical, translational, and basic aspects of cancer, with a special emphasis on leukaemia and other hematologic malignancies, with the final aim of finding a cure for these diseases.
The IJC's vision is to be a world-class reference and excellent research multicampus that contributes to the improvement of results, and the cure of patients affected by leukemia and other malignant hemopathies, through innovation, sustainability, social responsibility, talent, and professional experience.
HR Excellence In 2019, IJC was honored with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research Award" by the European Commission, recognizing  the alignment of our human resources policies with the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) guides research centers of excellence in implementing and upholding these standards within their policies, emphasizing training, professional development, and mobility opportunities.
The IJC's commitment to these values and principles strengthens our internal policies and ensures that our members have the optimal conditions and environment for their professional development.
The IJC is an equal opportunity employer.
We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.