Postdoc in machine learning for advanced antibody discovery technologies

Would you like to be part of an international team fighting to reduce the harm of snakebites in India?

We are looking for 1 postdoctoral researcher for a 2-year position within the fields of machine learning, computational structural biology, and antibody technology from September 1st, 2023 (or soon thereafter). The selected candidate will be part of an international team pursuing an extraordinarily ambitious antibody development project with the humanitarian aim of developing recombinant antivenoms for snakebites in India. Towards this goal, the candidate will leverage data from in-house display technologies and next generation sequencing to lead the development of a machine-learning guided pipeline.

Project description
Designing proteins to fulfil multiple objectives simultaneously is challenging. The difficulty lies in measuring or predicting protein properties accurately at scale.

In this project, the selected candidate will leverage our in-house experimental platforms to drive the development of generative and discriminative models to accelerate the design cycle of antibodies for use in treatment of snakebite. The experimental data range from coarse yet high-throughput to highly resolved and accurate. The opportunity lies in combining these with appropriate inductive biases to inform scientific decision-making and ultimately improve the lives of snakebite victims.

Information about the division and the department
The selected candidate will join the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for the Natural Sciences (AIMLeNS, head: Simon Olsson) group at Chalmers University of Technology, yet will join in meetings with the experimental counter part of this project The Digital Biotechnology Lab (head: Timothy Jenkins) at DTU in Lyngby, Denmark.

The AIMLeNS group is an interdisciplinary group focusing on developing AI and ML systems to address challenging questions in the natural sciences. Our interest include accelerating molecular simulations and inverse design.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is a joint department at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, with activities on both campuses. Around 240 staff and approximately 125 Ph.D. students from more than 30 countries comprise the department. Our research spans from theoretical computer science to applied systems development. We provide high-quality education at Bachelor's, Master's, and graduate levels, offering over 120 courses each year. We also have extensive national and international collaborations with academia, industry, and society. The Data Science & AI division within CSE engages in research and education within a growing area encompassing Data Science, AI, Machine Learning, and its applications.

About the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – WASP
WASP is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems.

The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish industry.

Major responsibilities
As a Postdoctoral researcher your main responsibility is to lead a research project in collaboration with the project PIs and drive its implementation (80%). The selected candidate will also have the opportunity to mentor and co-supervise junior researchers and teach on a graduate level (20%).

The research entails developing and implementing scientific ideas, establishing research collaborations, communicating your results orally or in written form via scientific venues, including in journals and at conferences.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position of postdoc, you must hold a doctoral degree awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline (according to the current agreement with the Swedish Agency for Government Employers).

Applicants must have a quantitative background with a Ph.D., or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline. Viable candidates have a strong publication track-record.

Finally, the selected candidate will have excellent writing and speaking of English. Knowledge of Swedish is not a prerequisite for consideration.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230081 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Application deadline: 10-03-2023

For questions, please contact:
Simon Olsson
E-mail: simonols@chalmers.se

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***