Research Fellow in Genetic Epidemiology and Data Science

Overview

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton offers a three-year, full-time, fixed-term Research Fellow position based at University Hospital Southampton. The appointee joins Professor Hanieh Yaghootkar's precision-diabetes research programme in the Department of Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine to study the biological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes by combining organ health measurements with genetic and clinical datasets.

Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD in computational biology, biostatistics, statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology, data science, or a closely related field. Candidates need background in analyzing large-scale biomedical, epidemiological, or genetic datasets, such as the UK Biobank, alongside strong computational and statistical abilities, including fluency in Python and R and familiarity with Linux computing environments. Required technical proficiencies include practical experience with Mendelian randomisation and genome-wide association studies, as well as the application of predictive modelling, clustering, or machine learning to complex biomedical information. Applicants should also demonstrate a grasp of genetic epidemiology and complex disease mechanisms, a track record of peer-reviewed publications, and strong communication and organizational skills. Background in metabolic disease research is considered advantageous.

What you get

The position offers a salary ranging from £37,369 to £45,641 per annum, alongside a university benefits package that includes pension provisions and annual leave. Researchers gain access to secure analytical environments, high-performance computing infrastructure, and large-scale biomedical data, alongside professional development, conference attendance, publication opportunities, and a supportive, inclusive workplace adhering to Athena SWAN principles.

How to apply

Informal inquiries can be directed to Professor Hanieh Yaghootkar via email.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-12-03, and the fixed-term contract runs until 31/01/2030.