Senior Bioinformatician

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

About the role

The Vento Lab is looking for a Senior Bioinformatician/Computational Biologist to support single-cell, spatial transcriptomic and CRISPR data analysis within the team. The role spans multiple projects aimed at understanding the immune system through cutting-edge single-cell genomics, advanced computational methods, and emerging AI-driven approaches. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary environment that brings together wet-lab immunologists and computational biologists.

This is a research-focused position for a computational biologist who uses genomics and transcriptomics to frame and investigate cell biology hypotheses. The successful candidate will work both independently and collaboratively within the Vento group to design and execute analyses of large-scale transcriptomic and CRISPR datasets from immune cells. This requires a deep understanding of the biological and experimental context of the data, the ability to formulate relevant biological questions, to select and design analytical methods appropriate to the experimental context, and to apply cellular, immune, and tissue biology knowledge to interpret results in a meaningful way. Alongside contributing to assigned projects, the post holder will help shape the group’s analytical directions by maintaining an overview of ongoing work, interacting closely with members of the Vento group and external collaborators, and playing an active role in scientific discussions and in developing innovative computational strategies. There will also be opportunities to broaden expertise in machine learning and AI approaches.

Overall, the successful candidate will join a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research team with expertise in applying cutting-edge single-cell genomics to biological questions in immunology and women’s health. Our culture is grounded in open communication, scientific curiosity, and mutual support. Together, we aim to generate impactful insights into how the immune system develops, maintains health, and responds to disease, with a particular focus on conditions affecting women.

Key responsibilities of the role:

• Perform analysis and interpretation of large-scale single-cell and multi-omic datasets (e.g. scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR, scATAC-seq) to derive meaningful biological insight.
• Use molecular and cellular biology knowledge to design biologically informed analytical approaches, critically interpret results, and ensure that methodological decisions align with experimental design and research aims.
• Implement innovative and creative data analysis strategies beyond standard pipelines to address complex research challenges and explore new directions.
• Work collaboratively as an active intellectual partner within the Vento interdisciplinary team, participating in scientific discussions and collaborative problem-solving to ensure computational approaches align with experimental work.
• Feedback results to project leaders and colleagues when required to achieve deadlines.
• Organise and keep track of developed codes and generated data within the group.
• Prepare high-quality data reports to communicate results, including through publication and presentations at scientific meetings.
• Take a full part in the general duties of the team, and to pass on skills and knowledge to other team members and visitors. To take part in wider Sanger Institute activities as appropriate.

About You

You are a researcher with experience in computational biology and cell biology. You are motivated by the opportunity to advance our understanding of human immunology and contribute to meaningful scientific discoveries. You have experience analysing and interpreting transcriptomic and genomic data, and you are seeking a senior research role that integrates immune biology with cutting-edge genomic and computational approaches. You work with precision and enjoy solving complex problems, while remaining open to learning in areas where you have less experience. Collaboration is central to your work, and you value constructive dialogue, shared problem-solving, and meeting deadlines within a supportive team environment.

You will be supported in your personal and professional development, and will have the opportunity to lead peer-reviewed publications on single cell genomics approaches.

Essential Skills

• MSC or PhD in a relevant biological, computational or quantitative discipline (e.g. Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, Biomedicine, Computer Science, Physics, etc); or equivalent working experience in Bioinformatics or a related discipline.
• Experience in a research environment with an established track record of productivity through publications, or writing reports in the industry.
• Experience in the fields of genomics and transcriptomics, data processing and high-throughput data analysis.
• Solid understanding of molecular and cellular biology, with the ability to formulate biological questions and interpret transcriptomic data within experimental context.
• Experience programming in high-level scripting languages (Preferably Python and/or R), and the Unix Shell.

• Enthusiastic, proactive attitude and desire to learn.
• Strong communication skills to allow efficient interactions with team members.
• Commitment, problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to organise own workload and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to summarise complex information and present to a wide variety of audiences in a concise and logical manner.
• Demonstrates inclusivity and respect for all.

Other Information:

Please upload your cover letter along with your current CV to apply.

Closing date: 10th February
Salary: £44,905- 53,887

Role Profile

Relevant publication of the groups:

• CellPhoneDB v5: inferring cell-cell communication from single-cell multiomics data.

Troulé K, Petryszak R, Cakir B, Cranley J, Harasty A, Prete M, Tuong ZK, Teichmann SA, Garcia-Alonso L, Vento-Tormo R.

Nat Protoc. 2025 Mar 25.

• Spatial multiomics map of trophoblast development in early pregnancy.

Arutyunyan A, Roberts K, Troulé K, Wong FCK, Sheridan MA, Kats I, Garcia-Alonso L, Velten B, Hoo R, Ruiz-Morales ER, Sancho-Serra C, Shilts J, Handfield LF, Marconato L, Tuck E, Gardner L, Mazzeo CI, Li Q, Kelava I, Wright GJ, Prigmore E, Teichmann SA, Bayraktar OA, Moffett A, Stegle O, Turco MY, Vento-Tormo R.

Nature. 2023 Apr;616(7955):143-151.

• Single-cell roadmap of human gonadal development.

Garcia-Alonso L, Lorenzi V, Mazzeo CI, Alves-Lopes JP, Roberts K, Sancho-Serra C, Engelbert J, Marečková M, Gruhn WH, Botting RA, Li T, Crespo B, van Dongen S, Kiselev VY, Prigmore E, Herbert M, Moffett A, Chédotal A, Bayraktar OA, Surani A, Haniffa M, Vento-Tormo R.

Nature. 2022 Jul;607(7919):540-547.

• Robust temporal map of human in vitro myelopoiesis using single-cell genomics.

Alsinet C, Primo MN, Lorenzi V, Bello E, Kelava I, Jones CP, Vilarrasa-Blasi R, Sancho-Serra C, Knights AJ, Park JE, Wyspianska BS, Trynka G, Tough DF, Bassett A, Gaffney DJ, Alvarez-Errico D, Vento-Tormo R.

Nat Commun. 2022 May 24;13(1):2885.

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.