Mots-Clés

Bioinformatique, intelligence artificielle, conception rationnelle de protéines variants pathogéniques

Description

The Computational Biology and Bioinformatics group at Brussels University (ULB) is currently seeking a candidate for a doctoral or postdoctoral position.

Research context: The understanding of the biophysical mechanisms that drive single nucleobase substitutions in different regions of the human genome is one of the key questions of the post-genomic era. These mutations, whether inherited or somatic, are potentially responsible for a huge range of rare and complex diseases. The rationalization of these mechanisms is highly intricate, since base substitutions depend on the nucleotide sequence context and can be triggered by a wide range of physical, chemical or biological factors.

Objective: The aim of this project is to bridge the gap between the atomic-level characterization of mutagenesis processes and the resulting phenotypic traits. More specifically, the project consists in developing and applying bioinformatics tools to predict disease-causing protein variants and trying to understand why they are so, in terms of protein characteristics such as stability, solubility, flexibility and function. Another facet of the project is to investigate the role of DNA charge transport in mutational and pathogenic processes using a multiscale computational approach combining quantum chemistry, machine learning and genomics. The project will specifically focus on somatic cancer mutations.

Offer: A full time doctoral or postdoctoral position for 1 year. Flexible starting date, between now and February 2024. Possibility of extension.

Required:

• Master or PhD degree in Sciences (Bioinformatics, Bioengineer, Physics, Chemistry, Informatics).
• Excellent programming skills.

For postdoctoral researchers:

• Excellent publication record.
• Maximum 6 years research experience after PhD.
• International mobility (maximum 24 months of residence in Belgium in the last 3 years).

Desirable:

• Experience in the areas of machine learning and structural or genome bioinformatics.

Our lab:

Our lab focuses on the development of bioinformatic tools and computational approaches that can be used both for investigating fundamental questions in biology and designing practical solutions particularly in biotechnology and medicine.

The methods used to build these tools are varied but mainly revolve around artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analysis, statistical physics, stochastic modelling, and quantum chemistry. Experimental data is of paramount importance for most of these methods and we have therefore established strong connections with experimental labs from both academia and the industry. Our lab is also part of a network of collaborators, among others, within the Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels and with the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston.

For additional information, visit our website https://3bio.polytech.ulb.be/en/bioinfo

Contact: Please submit: (1) a cover letter detailing your background and interest in the position, (2) a full CV and (3) two references (with name, email, address, phone number), to Fabrizio Pucci (Fabrizio.pucci@ulb.be) and Marianne Rooman (marianne.rooman@ulb.be).

Application deadline: December 1, 2023.