(Senior) Research Fellow in Software Development

Overview

Professor Jasmin Fisher's laboratory at the UCL Cancer Institute is recruiting a (Senior) Research Fellow in Software Development. The lab runs an ambitious multidisciplinary programme that uses AI to generate digital tumour twins. Its aim is to change cancer research and precision oncology by building transparent, interpretable and trustworthy AI that combines machine learning, mechanistic modelling, formal verification and large-scale biomedical data.

The successful candidate will play a central part in designing and building a neurosymbolic AI platform for cancer. This includes contributing to the integration and analysis of large multi-omics and clinical cancer datasets, developing and fine-tuning AI models, and creating explainable and verifiable computational frameworks for tumour digital twins. The post suits an ambitious research software development engineer who wants to apply formal verification and AI to real problems in biomedicine.

Requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD in computer science, software engineering, machine learning, mathematics, physics or a related quantitative field, with a strong record in software development or research. Extensive experience designing, building and maintaining robust, scalable software is expected, along with modern engineering practice such as version control, automated testing, documentation and CI/CD workflows. Candidates should also have experience developing and deploying AI-enabled applications, including machine learning, large language models and generative AI, and be comfortable with cloud platforms, distributed computing and data-intensive systems. Clear communication to specialist and non-specialist audiences and enthusiasm for collaborative, multidisciplinary work are important.

What you get

The full-time post is funded for 3 years in the first instance, with a probationary period of 9 months. It is advertised across Grades 6b to 8. Appointment at Grade 7 or 8 depends on the award of a PhD, and Grade 8 also depends on previous experience. Candidates who have not yet been awarded their PhD may start at Research Assistant Grade 6b, moving to Grade 7 with backdated pay once the final corrected thesis is submitted. The post is based on site.

How to apply

Applications should include a CV and a cover letter that gives evidence against the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. Including a cover letter means the short motivation box in the application form can be left blank.

Key dates

The closing date is 28 October 2026.