Job Description

Job number

ENG03604

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Department of Chemical Engineering

Salary or Salary range

48,056 - 56,345 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - Hybrid

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

21 Jul 2025

About the role

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The Sormanni Lab in the Department of Chemical Engineering is looking for a motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher to advance their computational antibody-engineering platform. Sitting at the interface between computational design and in vitro experiments, the team has developed multiple in silico and in vitro methods to design novel antibodies and nanobodies as therapeutic agents and research tools.

What you would be doing

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In this role, you will mainly focus on strengthening our computational pipeline: integrating multiple standalone machine?learning predictors into a unified, multi?objective framework capable of navigating the fitness landscape of antibody candidates. The ultimate goal will be to better comprehend the link between developability, affinity and functionality.



You will explore multiple avenues such as reinforcement and active learning, physics?aware machine learning models, and possibly integrate tools from the literature to design antibodies with enhanced biophysical and functional properties. You will map the fitness landscape across both sequence and structural dimensions, integrating both types of data in your models.



You will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with group members and external labs, applying and validating your algorithms through laboratory experiments.

What we are looking for

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A PhD in Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, or related fields with a focus on protein engineering. Proficiency in Python programming language and familiarity with machine learning libraries (e.g., PyTorch). Experience in structural Bioinformatics, including the ability to manipulate protein sequences and structural data. Collaborative teamwork skills and the ability to effectively communicate complex scientific ideas clearly and concisely. A track-record of mentoring students is desirable.

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range 43,003- 46,297 per annum.*

Further information

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This is a full-time post (35 hours per week).



This role is for a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Please note that the University may not be able to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post under Tier 2 of the UKVI's Points Based System. Any candidate, who is considering applying for this position and requires sponsorship, must ensure that they are able to obtain permission to work in the UK through an appropriate immigration route.



To apply, please click the "" button at the top of the page. You will find this vacancy by searching either the position title or job number: ENG03604. Candidates will need to complete an online application.



Further information about the post is available in the job description.



Should you have any queries about the application process please contact chemeng.staffing@imperial.ac.uk.

Closing date: Midnight on 21 July 2025

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.