Job Description

THIS VACANCY MUST BE APPLIED FOR VIA THE NBI JOBS WEBSITE

Research Scientist (Bioinformatics)

Applications are invited for a Research Scientist (Bioinformatics) to join the Laboratory of Dr Kai Cheng in the Food, Microbiome and Health programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

Since joining the Quadram Institute in 2025 as a Group Leader, Dr Cheng has been leading the AI & Metaproteomics for Human Gut Health group. The groups mission is to transform personalised medicine and nutrition by developing centralised multi-omics repositories and cutting-edge AI frameworks. Ultimately, they aim to create Artificial Intelligence Virtual Cells (AIVCs) which offer a revolutionary way to simulate gut microbial ecosystems and understand their vital role in human wellbeing.

The role:

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist in Bioinformatics to join the Quadram Institute Bioscience. This exciting position focuses on the development and application of computational methods for metaproteomics and multi-omics integration to advance precision microbiome research.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team, applying bioinformatics, machine learning, and AI-driven approaches to analyse large-scale datasets from microbiome studies. The role will involve developing and optimising pipelines for peptide/protein identification, quantification, and functional annotation, and integrating these with metagenomics and metabolomics data to reveal insights into the role of the microbiome in human health.

You will have access to state-of-the-art high-performance computing resources and work closely with leading researchers in microbiome science, precision nutrition, and personalised medicine. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge computational biology while building a strong research profile through publications and collaborations.

The ideal candidate:

Candidates should hold a PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related discipline, with strong expertise in omics data analysis, particularly proteomics or metaproteomics (DDA/DIA-MS). They should demonstrate proficiency in programming and scripting (e.g. Python, Linux) and experience applying machine learning or artificial intelligence methods to biological data. Excellent communication, organisational, and teamwork skills are essential, together with the ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary research environments. Experience in multi-omics data integration, familiarity with microbiome or clinical datasets, and contributions to collaborative or open-source bioinformatics projects will be considered advantageous.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range 37,500 to 41,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of two years.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website https://jobs.quadram.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004970. This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

Please note CVs received directly from Indeed will not be considered. Only applications submitted on the above website will be accepted

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe's largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 9 November 2025.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

Pay: 37,500.00-41,500.00 per year

Benefits:

Canteen Company pension Cycle to work scheme On-site parking
Work Location: In person