Open position · Tarabichi lab
PhD position in computational biology
We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral researcher in computational biology to join the Tarabichi lab at IRIBHM, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). You will develop and apply computational methods to human ’omics and tissue data to understand how normal cells accumulate changes, how cancers arise from them, and how tumours evolve. The exact project will be shaped with you, around the lab’s research axes and your interests.
- Contract
- 4 years, full-time
- Start
- Flexible, from November 2026
- Location
- Erasmus campus, Brussels
- Supervisor
- Maxime Tarabichi
What we offer
A 4-year full-time doctoral position at IRIBHM Jacques E. Dumont, a leading interdisciplinary biology institute of the Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. The PhD degree is awarded by ULB.
- Competitive salary, following the FNRS pay scale.
- Start date flexible, from November 2026; priority given to early applications.
- Access to rich in-house and public datasets, such as whole-genome sequencing, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and digitised histology.
- Our own high-performance computing infrastructure, with documentation and support.
- Close collaboration with wet-lab scientists, clinicians and pathologists, so that methods stay anchored in real patient material.
- A tutor from day one, structured onboarding, and support to attend courses and international conferences.
- Opportunities to supervise master students and to build a scientific network.
The lab
The Tarabichi lab is a computational biology lab with a small wet-lab component, embedded in the IRIBHM ecosystem. Our team brings together researchers trained in computer science, mathematics, biology and bioinformatics, and generates much of the data its questions require. Meet them on our people page.
We have implemented the SAFE Labs Handbook. Our rules on lab culture, inclusion, organisation and opportunities are in our guidelines.
The lab is on the Erasmus campus in Anderlecht, Brussels. The campus also hosts the largest hospital in Brussels and the Jules Bordet Institute, a world-renowned cancer centre.
Possible research directions
The PhD project will sit within one or more of the lab’s four research axes.
Cancer genomics & somatic evolution
Calling mutations and copy-number changes, timing them, and modelling how tumours grow, including in inherited cancer predisposition.
Thyroid cancer
Evolution of papillary, anaplastic and medullary thyroid carcinomas, including radiation-induced cancers after Chernobyl, with patient-derived organoid models.
Cancer transcriptomics
Gene signatures, RNA editing, and spatial and single-nucleus transcriptomics.
Microanatomy & AI histopathology
Deep learning and image registration to reconstruct tissues in 3D from serial histology sections.
See our publications for examples of our work.
Profile
- A master’s degree (or equivalent, obtained by the start date) in bioinformatics, computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, or biology with strong quantitative training.
- Programming experience in R and/or Python, and comfort working on the Linux command line.
- Interest in cancer biology and evolution. Experience with sequencing data, statistical modelling, machine learning or image analysis is an advantage, but not required.
- Fluent written and oral English. French is not required.
- Good communication skills and a collaborative spirit; willing to work across teams, with biologists and clinicians, and to travel to collaborators.
- Curiosity, rigour, and the drive to see a research question through.
Responsibilities
- Method development
- Design, implement and benchmark algorithms, statistical models or machine-learning approaches for cancer ’omics or histology data.
- Data analysis
- Process and analyse large-scale sequencing and/or imaging datasets on our HPC infrastructure, from raw data to biological insight.
- Reproducible research
- Write well-documented, version-controlled code and release it as open-source tools and pipelines.
- Collaboration
- Work closely with wet-lab biologists, pathologists and clinicians to define questions and interpret results.
- Communication
- Present your work at lab meetings and international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and write your doctoral thesis.
How to apply
Send the following documents to maxime.tarabichi@ulb.be, with “PhD application – computational biology” in the subject line:
- A CV, including your master’s transcripts and any publications or code (e.g. a GitHub link).
- A cover letter (one page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience, and which research direction interests you most.
- Contact information for at least two academic referees.
Applications are reviewed as they are received, and the position remains open until filled. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview within a few weeks of applying.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Email your application
