Postdoc in Biological Data Systems, Alpha Cell Program

Job description

Alpha Cell is a new SciLifeLab program aimed at building the first molecular-level computational model of the human cell. The program is led by Jan Ellenberg, Director of SciLifeLab and Mathias Ulhen, Director of the Human Protein Atlas, together with a collaborative, multi-institutional constellation of SciLifeLab researchers and infrastructure units. 

The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) is a large-scale international effort to map the spatial distribution of proteins in human cells, tissues, and organs using antibody-based imaging, transcriptomics, and systems biology approaches. Since its launch, the atlas has generated one of the world’s most comprehensive open resources for spatial molecular biology, comprising millions of images and extensive molecular measurements. All data are released openly and widely used by researchers worldwide. 

The Alpha Cell program is recruiting a postdoctoral in Biological Data Systems to develop scalable data infrastructure and computational systems for large biological datasets. The position will be embedded within the Human Protein Atlas at KTH and SciLifeLab. The successful candidate will work closely with Avlant Nilsson cancer cell modeling lab and Wei Ouyang’s AICell lab who together will develop the first foundation cell model based on HPA and other external large-scale datasets. 

The role focuses on establishing the data foundations for the program’s initial modelling efforts by identifying, evaluating, integrating, and structuring large biological datasets into scalable, standardized, and AI-ready frameworks for computational modelling. Working in SciLifeLab’s highly interdisciplinary environment, where imaging, molecular data, and computational methods are developed in parallel, the postdoc will develop systems and services that make biological data accessible to AI and computational tools, collaborating closely with the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) team and other researchers to enhance data integration, annotation, structure, and accessibility, connect external datasets, and support open science and emerging AI-driven workflows.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, cell biology with a strong computational component, or a closely related field. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Strong understanding of biological datasets and data modalities relevant to cell biology, such as imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, or spatial omics
• Rich experience and track record in using open databases and bioinformatic tools and services.
• Strong programming skills for developing computational tools or data workflows (Python or similar), with good software engineering practice, collaborative development experience (e.g. Git/GitHub), and ability to use AI-assisted coding tools effectively.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across experimental, computational, and infrastructure-focused teams 

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Experience working with large heterogeneous datasets
• Experience working with biological datasets such as imaging, genomics, proteomics, or spatial omics
• Experience building scalable or automated data processing workflows
• Experience building APIs or data services for large scientific datasets
• Familiarity with the Model Context Protocol or similar systems for exposing data to AI tools and agents
• Experience developing infrastructure for machine learning workflows
• Experience contributing to open data platforms or large scientific databases 
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Join us at KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Learn more about our benefits and what it's like to work and grow at KTH.

Trade union representatives

Contact information to trade union representatives.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Maximally two pages long.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.