Postdoctoral Researcher - AI Scientist & Computational Cancer Biology

University-of-Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher (AI Scientist & Computational Cancer Biology) to join the UK Cancer Vaccine AI Scientist & Supercomputing Project. You will develop AI and computational biology methods to analyse large cancer datasets and contribute to vaccine target discovery.

You will collaborate with AI researchers, cancer biologists, and robotic laboratories, guiding junior researchers and integrating genomic,

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil in AI, computational biology, bioinformatics, cancer biology, genomics or related discipline.
• Strong computational research skills with large-scale datasets experience.
• Practical experience with frontier AI models and AI coding tools such as Codex.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply AI and computational biology approaches to large-scale cancer datasets.
• Use frontier AI models and agentic coding tools to advance research.
• Integrate genomic, immunological and experimental data to improve vaccine target discovery.
• Collaborate with AI researchers, cancer biologists, immunologists and autonomous laboratory scientists.
• Guide junior members of the research group and manage own discrete area of computational research.

Skills

AI

Computational biology

Genomics

Machine learning

Data analysis

Laboratory workflows

Education

PhD / DPhil in AI or computational biology

PhD in bioinformatics

PhD in cancer biology or genomics

Tools

Codex

AI models

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher - AI Scientist & Computational Cancer Biology

Oxford Centre for Immuno-Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher (AI Scientist & Computational Cancer Biology) to join the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, working on an state of the art project funded by Advanced Research & Innovation Agency.

The UK Cancer Vaccine AI Scientist & Supercomputing Project is a government-supported national flagship research initiative hosted by the University of Oxford. The project brings together sovereign AI supercomputing, AI Scientists, automated laboratories, and immunology to develop and manufacture safer, more precise and more effective personalised cancer vaccines.

To accelerate the development of personalised cancer vaccines for NHS patients, we seek to create an AI scientist capable of reviewing scientific discovery, generating hypotheses, designing experiments, controlling laboratory workflows, and analysing results. By integrating advanced machine learning with robotic laboratory automation, experimental findings are rapidly fed back to the AI scientist, enabling increasingly accurate predictions and accelerating the pace at which new scientific discoveries can be translated towards patient benefit.

The project has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading strategic research initiatives, having been referenced within both the Government’s AI for Science Strategy and the 10-Year National Cancer Plan. It is supported by major UK research funders and government organisations, including ARIA, the Medical Research Council, UK Research and Innovation, Cancer Research UK and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, alongside a consortium of more than 2,500 scientists, clinicians, engineers, patient representatives and technology experts. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team working at the interface of artificial intelligence, computational biology, cancer immunology, robotics, software engineering and clinical research, contributing to research that aims to establish new approaches for the discovery and development of personalised cancer vaccines.

You will take responsibility for a discrete area of computational research within the programme, developing and applying artificial intelligence and computational biology approaches to large-scale cancer datasets. They will use frontier and open-source AI models, develop AI models and agentic scientific systems, and integrate genomic, immunological and experimental data to improve cancer vaccine target discovery and prediction. They will work closely with AI researchers, cancer biologists, immunologists and autonomous laboratory scientists and provide guidance to junior members of the research group.

It is essential that you hold a relevant PhD/DPhil (or be close to completion) in artificial intelligence, computational biology, bioinformatics, cancer biology, genomics or a closely related discipline. You will possess strong computational research skills and demonstrable experience analysing large-scale biological, genomic or biomedical datasets. Similarly, with practical experience using frontier AI models and AI coding or agent systems, for example Codex or comparable agentic coding tools, you will demonstrate sufficient specialist knowledge of cancer biology, cancer genomics or tumour immunology to work effectively within established cancer research programmes.

An understanding of cancer vaccines, neoantigen discovery, tumour antigens or cancer immunology and their application to personalised medicine and ability to manage own academic research and independently deliver a discrete area of computational research is essential.

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until 30 September 2030 and is funded by ARIA.

Only applications received before 12 midday on Thursday, 5 November 2026 will be considered. Please quote 189248 on all correspondence.

Salary (£) : Research Grade 7: £39,424 - £47,779 with a discretionary range to £53, 483p.a. (pro rata). This is inclusive of a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year (pro rata).