Research Post Doc - Zhou Lab

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A Brief Overview
Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assumes responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. This position will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. This role also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

About the Laboratory

We're seeking a creative, hands-on postdoc to develop AI methods for medical diagnosis and spatial genomics applications. The recruit will design algorithms and develop tools that decode the spatial epigenome to understand cell biology, mammalian development, cell lineage, and disease mechanisms-then translate them into robust tools for the community.

You will:

• Build and evaluate AI/Machine Learning/Deep Learning models (e.g., representation learning, Transformer, classification, regression, tabular models) for DNA methylation and multi-omics data.
• Develop methods for spatial NGS/epigenomics analysis (spatial WGBS/EM-seq/ONT).
• Integrate cross-modal data (methylation, RNA, chromatin, imaging/clinical) for classification, prognosis, and mechanism discovery.
• Write clean, reproducible code; benchmark rigorously; co-lead manuscripts and open-source releases.

You'll join a fast-moving, collaborative group led by Dr. Wanding Zhou at The Center for Computational & Genomic Medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p9318290), with affiliations at the Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Bioengineering. We build computational tools and AI-driven approaches to connect epigenome variation with development and disease, working closely with clinicians and technology developers across Penn/CHOP.

Recent publications

• Science Advances (2025, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw3027)
• Nature (2025, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09478-x)
• Cell Genomics (2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100929)
• Genome Biology (2025, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03808-y)

See https://zhou-lab.github.io/content/simple/publications.html for a complete list and details:

• Hands-on AI/ML experience (PyTorch/TensorFlow/JAX, scikit-learn).
• NGS data analysis experience.
• Strong writing, open-science mindset, and collaborative spirit.
• Preferred: prior work with epigenomics (DNA methylation/5hmC, single-cell or spatial, ONT/Illumina arrays), probabilistic modeling, or clinical prediction.

What we offer

• NIH-funded position with competitive salary and benefits.
• Access to Penn/CHOP's vibrant research ecosystem: high-performance computing infrastructure, cores, seminars, data resources, and clinical collaborators.
• Mentorship tailored to your goals, clear authorship opportunities, and strong support for career advancement (faculty, industry, or hybrid paths).
• An environment that values creativity, efficiency, and rigor.

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required
• PhD (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Bioengineering, or a related field preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to wear a respirator device

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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