Contract: 36 months, full time

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a postdoctoral researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of computational and systems biology.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Center is an independent international center of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We foster a creative, curiosity-based approach to answering fundamental questions in the biological sciences, and we translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy plants, healthy people, healthy planet, It sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the world-changing impact of our science.

Our employees have access to Latest technology and a variety of specialized training opportunities, including leadership and management support. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About Howard Group:

Howard’s group combines simple, predictive mathematical and biophysical modeling with long-term experimental collaborations to dissect biological mechanisms that are too complex to be solved by experiments alone. In many cases, we are able to rationalize complex biological dynamics into simple underlying mechanisms, with few components and interactions.

Our approach is highly interdisciplinary and relies heavily on techniques of statistical physics and applied mathematics, as well as close collaboration with experimental groups. At present, there are two main research areas in the group: exploring how epigenetic memory states are generated and then stably maintained, and understanding patterning dynamics in subcellular biological systems. For epigenetics, we work on both histone modification memory systems, especially the Polycomb silencing system, as well as on DNA methylation. For patterning, the main application at present is the dynamics of crossover positioning in meiosis.

The group regularly publishes in leading multidisciplinary journals, with recent papers in Nature, Science, Cell Systems, eLife, Molecular Cell, and PNAS. Several former members of the Howard group now hold independent teaching posts of their own, including at Warwick, Glasgow, Sydney, Amsterdam and Munich.

Role:

The main purpose of this position is to develop predictive computational models of epigenetic dynamics, collaborating in particular with the experimental group of Professor Rob Close in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. The models will advance our understanding of how the Polycomb system silences gene expression and how this silent memory state can be stably maintained through many cell cycles. This position is funded by Wellcome and would be suitable for an individual who has a high degree of independence and vision, and is able to develop a project independently. The successful candidate will have a rare opportunity to work on fundamental biological processes in a truly multidisciplinary environment, with seamless collaboration with a leading experimental group.

Ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate will have (or will soon complete) a PhD in Theoretical Physics, Biomathematics or Computational Biology. They will have a strong interest in biological problems and have demonstrated demonstrated scientific success in previous roles. Previous experience in biological modeling is desirable but not essential.

Additional information:

Interviews will be on the 20th^y November 2025.

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit our website via “He advancesButton above, or call the HR team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk Citing reference 1004880. This role meets the visa application criteria and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Where a successful applicant requires a visa, we will fund their visa costs and additional immigration health fees. Please contact our Human Resources team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and actively support inclusion and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to receive the prestigious Athena SWAN Gold Award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards promoting gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating and diverse research environment and actively promote a family-friendly workplace. The institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions program.

The John Innes Center is a registered charity (number 223852) supported by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.