Bioinformatics / Computational Biology & AI Researcher at VISHC
About VISHC & the Project:
The VinUni–Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC) is seeking a highly motivated Bioinformatics/Computational Biology & AI Researcher to join our interdisciplinary project on Phage-Host Interaction. The successful candidate will play a leading role in developing advanced computational models to predict and analyze the efficacy of bacteriophages against pathogenic bacteria. This position is ideal for candidates passionate about translating cutting-edge AI/ML techniques into real-world applications in clinical diagnostics and AMR intervention.
Center: VinUni-Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Supervisor(s):
Dr. Hien Ngo (Postdoctoral Fellow, VISHC) & other Co-Principal Investigators (Dr. Khoa Doan & Prof. Andrew Taylor-Robinson, VinUni; Prof. Helen Nguyen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – UIUC).
Compensation: Negotiable, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Note: This position does not include health insurance or other standard employee benefits.
Task Description (Dry Lab Focus):
- Model Development: Design, implement, and validate AI/ML/Explainable AI (XAI) models for predicting phage-host specificity and lytic activity (killing power) based on genomic, proteomic, and phenomic data.
- Data Processing: Manage and analyze large sequencing datasets (e.g., WGS, RNASeq) from both host bacteria and phage genomes.
- Visualization & Reporting: Develop clear data visualization and reporting tools to communicate complex predictions to both computational and wet-lab teams.
- Publication: Lead and contribute to the preparation of high-impact research manuscripts.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree or higher in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
- Minimum 1 year of hands-on experience in biological data analysis (e.g., genomics/metagenomics).
- Strong background in Python and machine learning frameworks (e.g., Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch).
- Proven experience handling genomic data; experience with cloud computing environments (e.g., Colab, HPC, Github) is preferred.
- Strong English communication skills; an IELTS score ≥ 6.5 is an asset but not a mandatory requirement; (≥ 7.5 candidates will be strongly considered for VISHC PhD scholarship tracks).
- Willingness to commit to the project for at least 6 – 12 months.
How to Apply:
Please submit the following documents in English:
- CV (including contact details of 2 – 3 reference contacts),
- Academic transcripts,
- A detailed motivation letter explaining your specific experience in AI/ML for biological data; or your laboratory experience, specific technical skills, and commitment to the project.
Send your application to hien.ntt@vinuni.edu.vn.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis every three months until January 2027.
Volunteering and Mentorship Opportunity:
If you are interested in a short-term volunteer commitment, please send your CV & motivation letter to Dr. Hien directly for guidance. We are always eager to mentor highly motivated individuals who wish to develop their careers in this or relevant research area.