Postdoctoral Appointee - Computational and Systems Biology

The Data Science Learning Division, DSL, at Argonne National Laboratory is seeking two Postdoctoral Researchers to conduct cutting-edge computational and systems biology research. The primary focus of this role will be exploring how intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) mediate signaling mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on cancer therapeutics. Supported by a multi-year grant, this project aims to revolutionize the development of therapeutic platforms for IDPs, creating significant advancements in cancer research and treatment strategies.

As part of a collaborative initiative with the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Postdoctoral Researchers will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of computational and experimental biologists. The team is dedicated to developing innovative therapeutic strategies for targeting IDPs, including biologics such as protein-protein inhibitors, Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), nanobodies, and more.

In this role you can expect to:

• Develop foundational models to describe IDP interactions under various physiological conditions, both normal and cancer related.
• Use these models to iteratively design, validate, and refine experiments, leading to effective therapeutic strategies targeting IDPs.
• Collaborate on the development of open-source machine learning tools to support these therapeutic designs.
• Work closely with high-throughput screening teams at the University of Chicago, automating screening protocols in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory.
• Drive research at the intersection of automation, robotics, generative AI, and computational simulations, leveraging the latest advancements in computing infrastructure.

You will have access to state-of-the-art computing resources, including:

• NVIDIA DGX-2 Systems: Powerful platforms for AI and deep learning (details: NVIDIA DGX-2).
• Intel-based Aurora Supercomputer: A next-generation supercomputing system (details: Aurora Supercomputer).
• Additional advanced compute architectures designed for machine learning and AI workflows.

Collaborative facilities:

• In addition to computational resources, the postdoctoral researcher will have access to dedicated wet-lab facilities at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory’s Biosciences Division, allowing for seamless computational and experimental research integration.

Position Requirements

• Completed PhD within the last 0-5 years in Biology or a related field.
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, respect, integrity, safety and teamwork.
• Computational Biology: Strong background in systems biology and regulatory network modeling.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Experience working across disciplines with computational biologists, computer scientists, and experimental biologists.
• Assay Expertise: Functional understanding of quantitative and high-throughput assays, particularly in biological signaling and screening contexts.
• Machine Learning & Statistics: Proficiency in machine learning, statistical modeling, and quantitative methods for multi-omics data analysis.
• Molecular Simulations: Expertise with molecular simulation tools like OpenMM, AMBER, Gromacs, and NAMD.
• Deep Learning Development: Experience developing, validating, and deploying deep learning models, especially using Pytorch.
• Multi-Omic Data Representation: Ability to build deep representations of multi-omic data.
• Programming: Strong knowledge of Python, C/C++, Julia, and other relevant programming languages.

Job Family

Postdoctoral Family

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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