We are looking for a motivated and talented postdoctoral-level researcher with experience in genomic analyses to join the newly established Coorens group at EMBL-EBI. We study how normal cells in different tissues acquire somatic mutations, use mutations as inherent barcodes to study human development and the origins of cancer, and develop computational tools to analyse mutations in novel single-cell and spatial data.

EMBL-EBI is part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and is a world-leading bioinformatics centre providing biological data to the scientific community with expertise in data storage, analysis and representation. EMBL-EBI provides freely available data from life science experiments, performs basic research in computational biology and offers an extensive user training programme, supporting researchers in academic and industry.

Your group

Coorens Group

Cells in the human body continuously acquire mutations, either due to errors in DNA replication or damage due to exposures. This process generates an enormous amount genetic diversity within the human body and enables natural selection within tissues. Until recently, our understanding of the somatic mutation landscape of normal cells has been limited compared to that of cancer cells.

Recent reductions in sequencing costs and advancements in single-cell genomic sequencing now promise unprecedented insights into somatic mutations in normal cells. However, existing algorithms for somatic mutation calling and phylogenetic tree reconstruction have primarily been developed for cancer genomics, bulk DNA sequencing or limited numbers of single cell-derived genomic readouts. As we enter the era of massively parallel single-cell DNA sequencing, there is an urgent need for scalable algorithms capable of reconstructing and analysing somatic phylogenetic trees efficiently.

Harnessing the full potential of scalable single-cell DNA assays to study somatic mutations and phylogenies unlocks the potential to answer many fundamental biological questions, across the entire continuum of human development, aging and the emergence of disease.

Some recent publications pertaining to the efforts of the group:

* Coorens, T. H. H. et al. Extensive phylogenies of human development inferred from somatic mutations. Nature 597, 387–392 (2021).

* Coorens, T. H. H. et al. The human and non-human primate developmental GTEx projects. Nature 637, 557–564 (2025).

* Coorens, T. H. H. et al. The somatic mutation landscape of normal gastric epithelium. Nature 640, 418–426 (2025).

* Coorens, T. H. H. et al. The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues Network. Nature (2025).

Your supervisor

Tim Coorens has recently joined EMBL-EBI as a Research Group Leader in May 2025. Prior to this, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard with Prof. Gad Getz and Dr Kristin Ardlie, supported by an EMBO long-term fellowship. Tim completed his PhD at the Wellcome Sanger Institute/University of Cambridge in 2021 under the auspices of Prof. Mike Stratton, Dr Iñigo Martincorena and Prof. Sam Behjati.

Your role

The Coorens lab at EMBL-EBI is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to lead analyses and develop new algorithms and computational tools for somatic genomics and phylogenetics. The group is associated with the Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Network and the developmental Genotype-Tissue Expression (dGTEx) project.

Possible directions within the group include, but are not limited to:

* Analysis and computational tool development for human tissue data from the SMaHT Network, which includes

- Spatial single cell DNA sequencing

- Duplex sequencing

- Long read sequencing

* Developing new computational methods for the fast and joint inference of variant calling and phylogenetics of single cells

* Developing new computational methods for the integration of multi-omics readouts of somatic mutations and functional consequences

* Analysis of childhood cancer genomes and normal tissues to deduce the origins of pediatric cancers

Potential postdocs are also encouraged to pitch their own projects and pursue their own specific research interests within the broad scientific scope of the group.

You have

* A PhD in bioinformatics, genomics, a related data-intensive field (computer science, physics, engineering) or a biomedical field with a strong computational component

* Strong programming skills, preferably in R and/or Python, and clean code practices

* Experience with computational analysis of genomic data, algorithm development, and statistics.

* Strong communication and teamwork skills

* The desire to be a supportive, creative, and responsible team member.

* Demonstrated ability to publish research in international peer reviewed journals or sharing bioinformatic tools and code (e.g. on GitHub)

You may also have

* Experience with machine learning/AI

* Experience in cancer genomics or somatic mutation-based research

Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a virtual call to briefly meet with Tim Coorens between July 30th and August 7th. We plan to hold final panel interviews the week of August 11th, or alternatively, the week of August 25th. If you are selected for a final interview, you will be asked to give a presentation. Details will be confirmed with selected candidates.

Benefits and Contract Information

* Financial incentives: depending on circumstances, monthly family/marriage allowance of £272, monthly child allowance of £328 per child. Generous stipend reviewed yearly, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
* Hybrid working arrangements
* Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
* Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays
* Relocation package
* Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
* Family benefits: On-site nursery, child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
* Contract duration: This position is a 2 year contract renewable to a maximum of 5 years
* Salary: Year 1 Stipend at rate of £3,307 per month after tax (Total package will be dependant on family circumstances)
* International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
* Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
* Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.