Summary
The Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join Dr. Gamze Gursoy’s research group. This position focuses on developing novel mathematical and computational methods for privacy-preserving human pangenome references, addressing critical questions about protecting individual information within increasingly rich representations of human genetic diversity.
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Genome Privacy (Fixed Term)
Designation
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Research Area
Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Genome Privacy, Graph Algorithms, Statistical Methodology, Optimization, Differential Privacy, Computational Genomics, Bioinformatics, Pangenomics.
Location
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, UK.
Eligibility/Qualification
- Completed, or close to completing, a PhD in statistics, mathematics, computer science, computational biology, bioinformatics, genomics, or a related field.
- Evidence of strong quantitative, computational, or methodological research is essential.
- Strong programming skills and an interest in interdisciplinary research are desirable.
- Candidates should have a strong background in one or more of the following areas:
- Statistics
- Graph theory or graph algorithms
- Mathematical or numerical optimization
- Differential privacy or related areas of data privacy
- Algorithms and theoretical computer science
- Computational genomics, bioinformatics, or pangenomics
- The funding requires that candidates must not have been UK residents during the 24 months before the start date, nor be currently employed by a UK organisation or its overseas campuses.
Job Description
The successful candidate will contribute to a highly interdisciplinary project focused on developing new approaches at the intersection of graph algorithms, statistical methodology, optimization, privacy, and computational genomics. The broader goal is to enable useful population-scale genomic references while limiting disclosure of sensitive information about individuals.
Research directions may include (depending on candidate’s interests and background):
- Differentially private construction and analysis of pangenome graphs.
- Privacy-aware graph algorithms and representations.
- Statistical characterization of privacy-utility trade-offs.
- Optimization of algorithms for large genomic graphs.
- Development and benchmarking of methods on human pangenome data.
The postholder will be expected to:
- Develop and manage their own research with guidance from the Principal Investigator.
- Actively contribute to the intellectual life of the research group.
- Communicate their work through publications, presentations, seminars, and conferences.
- Collaborate with Professor Po-Ling Loh in the Statistical Laboratory (DPMMS) on statistical, optimization, and differential privacy aspects.
- Interact and collaborate with researchers in the broader Human Pangenome Project community.
How to Apply
Click the ‘Apply’ button below to register an account with the recruitment system and apply online. Applicants must provide:
- Contact details (including email addresses) of two academic referees.
- A full Curriculum Vitae.
- A description of recent research (not to exceed two pages).
Please ensure at least one referee is contactable at any time during the selection process and encourage them to upload their reference promptly. For informal enquiries, contact Dr Gamze Gursoy at gg584@cam.ac.uk. For application process queries, contact LE51229@maths.cam.ac.uk. Please quote reference LE51229 on your application and in any correspondence.
Last Date for Apply
until position filled
Apply Link
