Postdoc Bioinformatics

Do you like to work with complex data? Do you like to code and develop software to improve research? Do you like working with big data on the intersections of genetics, biology and neuroscience in an ambitious team at Complex Trait Genetics?

Jouw functie

The Complex Trait Genetics lab (https://cncr.nl/ctg/) headed by Prof Danielle Posthuma at the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research in Amsterdam (see www.cncr.nl) is seeking applicants for a Postdoc Position in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology. The successful candidate will be part of the BRAINSCAPES consortium, which is a 10-year nationwide collaboration funded by the Dutch Government (Gravitation Program, 2020-2030), and led from the department of Complex Trait Genetics. The main aim of BRAINSCAPES is to gain mechanistic insight into brain disorders by leveraging results from recent genetic discoveries, utilizing large-scale bioinformatic resources, and testing genetically informed hypotheses in experimental studies. The candidate will focus on the computational part, specifically on linking results from GWAS studies to various bioinformatic resources, such as single cell RNA-seq data, or protein folding information. The candidate will work in an enthusiastic team of PhD students and postdocs, with diverse backgrounds, including statistics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, psychology and stem cell biology.

The successful candidate should have experience with GWAS data and handling large bioinformatics (e.g. RNA, functional annotations, proteomics) datasets. Experience in machine learning techniques is a pré.

Your duties

  • develop novel bioinformatic methods for integrating results from genome-wide association studies with biological information at single cell resolution
  • application of tools to data on brain-related traits
  • co-supervision of MSc and PhD students
  • authoring and co-authoring manuscripts submitted to high quality journals
  • some support (10% of time) with teaching is expected
  • frequently present work at consortium and international community (at conference calls, or conferences)

Jouw profiel

  • PhD in any of the of the following fields: bioinformatics, computational biology, statistical genetics or related computational field
  • demonstrable experience in bioinformatic data analysis, and in working with large datasets
  • demonstrable experience in genetic data analysis (GWAS, WES, WGS)
  • a good ability to write and read English
  • strong computer programming skills, experience with Python, the R statistical language and working in a UNIX environment
  • support ‘open science’: share tools and data with the wider scientific community

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Wat bieden wij

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of minimum € 3.378,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.331,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year.   

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Over ons

About the department Complex Trait Genetics
Research at the department of Complex Trait Genetics focuses on identifying the genetic mechanisms of brain-related traits. We develop novel statistical and bioinformatics tools to optimally analyze large genome-wide data sets for complex traits, combine them with biological data and generate hypotheses that can be tested in functional studies to obtain mechanistic insight.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interesse

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application before June 18, 2025. 

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Jouw functie

The Complex Trait Genetics lab (https://cncr.nl/ctg/) headed by Prof Danielle Posthuma at the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research in Amsterdam (see www.cncr.nl) is seeking applicants for a Postdoc Position in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology. The successful candidate will be part of the BRAINSCAPES consortium, which is a 10-year nationwide collaboration funded by the Dutch Government (Gravitation Program, 2020-2030), and led from the department of Complex Trait Genetics. The main aim of BRAINSCAPES is to gain mechanistic insight into brain disorders by leveraging results from recent genetic discoveries, utilizing large-scale bioinformatic resources, and testing genetically informed hypotheses in experimental studies. The candidate will focus on the computational part, specifically on linking results from GWAS studies to various bioinformatic resources, such as single cell RNA-seq data, or protein folding information. The candidate will work in an enthusiastic team of PhD students and postdocs, with diverse backgrounds, including statistics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, psychology and stem cell biology.

The successful candidate should have experience with GWAS data and handling large bioinformatics (e.g. RNA, functional annotations, proteomics) datasets. Experience in machine learning techniques is a pré.

Your duties

  • develop novel bioinformatic methods for integrating results from genome-wide association studies with biological information at single cell resolution
  • application of tools to data on brain-related traits
  • co-supervision of MSc and PhD students
  • authoring and co-authoring manuscripts submitted to high quality journals
  • some support (10% of time) with teaching is expected
  • frequently present work at consortium and international community (at conference calls, or conferences)

Jouw profiel

  • PhD in any of the of the following fields: bioinformatics, computational biology, statistical genetics or related computational field
  • demonstrable experience in bioinformatic data analysis, and in working with large datasets
  • demonstrable experience in genetic data analysis (GWAS, WES, WGS)
  • a good ability to write and read English
  • strong computer programming skills, experience with Python, the R statistical language and working in a UNIX environment
  • support ‘open science’: share tools and data with the wider scientific community

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Wat bieden wij

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of minimum € 3.378,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.331,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year.   

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Over ons

About the department Complex Trait Genetics
Research at the department of Complex Trait Genetics focuses on identifying the genetic mechanisms of brain-related traits. We develop novel statistical and bioinformatics tools to optimally analyze large genome-wide data sets for complex traits, combine them with biological data and generate hypotheses that can be tested in functional studies to obtain mechanistic insight.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Vragen over de vacature?

Neem contact op met

Prof. dr. Danielle Posthuma

Afdelingshoofd

Interesse

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application before June 18, 2025. 

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Vragen over de vacature?

Neem contact op met

Prof. dr. Danielle Posthuma

Afdelingshoofd

Sollicitatieprocedure

Stap1

Sollicitatie ontvangen

Wij hebben je sollicitatie goed ontvangen. We streven ernaar om je zo snel mogelijk een eerste reactie te geven. Normaal gesproken is dat twee weken na het verstrijken van de deadline.

Stap2

Screening CV

Een selectiecommissie beoordeelt of je voldoet aan de gestelde wensen/eisen voor de vacature. Bij een positieve beoordeling nodigen we je uit voor een eerste (hybride) sollicitatiegesprek.  

Stap3

1e Gesprek

Sollicitatiegesprekken vinden veelal plaats op een VU- locatie, maar soms word je eerst uitgenodigd voor een videogesprek. De VU maakt hiervoor gebruik van MS teams.
Stap4

2e Gesprek

Voor het tweede gesprek vragen we je meestal om naar onze VU campus te komen. 

Stap5

Pre-employment screening

Het overleggen van een diploma wordt altijd gevraagd bij indiensttreding. Afhankelijk van de functie kan een assessment onderdeel uitmaken van de sollicitatieprocedure.
Stap6

Optioneel antecedentenonderzoek

Afhankelijk van de functie en het bijbehorende risicoprofiel, kan een antecedentenonderzoek door de VU worden uitgevoerd. Daarbij kan worden gevraagd om referenties en/of een Verklaring omtrent Gedrag (VOG) aan te leveren. In het kader van kennisveiligheid kunnen wij ook publieke beschikbare social media accounts en publieke uitlatingen van jou op internet bekijken.
Stap7

In dienst

Welkom je bent in dienst bij de Vrije Universiteit!!

Mis jouw droombaan niet!