Postdoctoral Researcher - AI Scientist & Computational Cancer Biology

Overview

The University of Oxford invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in AI Scientist and Computational Cancer Biology within the Nuffield Department of Medicine and the Oxford Centre for Immuno-Oncology. The position is part of the UK Cancer Vaccine AI Scientist and Supercomputing Project, a national flagship initiative supported by the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency, the Medical Research Council, UK Research and Innovation, Cancer Research UK, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. This initiative unites sovereign AI supercomputing, automated laboratories, and immunology to advance personalised cancer vaccines for patients.

Who can apply

Candidates must hold or be close to completing a relevant PhD or DPhil in artificial intelligence, computational biology, bioinformatics, cancer biology, genomics, or a closely related field. Applicants need strong computational research skills and proven experience in analysing large-scale biological, genomic, or biomedical datasets. Practical experience using frontier artificial intelligence models and AI coding or agent systems is required, alongside sufficient specialist knowledge in cancer biology, cancer genomics, or tumour immunology. Candidates should also understand cancer vaccines, neoantigen discovery, tumour antigens, or cancer immunology, and demonstrate the ability to manage academic research independently.

What you get

The role provides a full-time, fixed-term salary ranging from £39,424 to £47,779 per annum, with a discretionary range extending to £53,483 per annum pro rata on Research Grade 7. This compensation includes a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year pro rata. The appointment runs until 30 September 2030 and is based on site at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Requirements

The successful candidate will take responsibility for a discrete area of computational research, applying artificial intelligence and computational biology methods to large-scale cancer datasets. Responsibilities include utilizing frontier and open-source AI models, building agentic scientific systems, and integrating genomic, immunological, and experimental data to improve cancer vaccine target discovery and prediction. The researcher will collaborate closely with artificial intelligence researchers, cancer biologists, immunologists, and autonomous laboratory scientists, while also offering guidance to junior group members. All correspondence must reference number 189248.

How to apply

Applicants must submit their applications before 12 midday on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Only applications received prior to this deadline will be considered for the position.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 5 November 2026. The contract extends until 30 September 2030.