Postdoc Position: Deep Learning for Glioblastoma Sequence-to-Function Models

• Model Development: Build and train advanced deep learning architectures (e.g., CNNs, Transformers, Generative Models) to decode the regulatory logic of genomic enhancers in GBM and the tumor microenvironment.
• Synthetic Design: Use sequence-to-function models to design "programmable" synthetic enhancers capable of targeting specific cancer cell states or host cells.
• Data Integration: Integrate pan-cancer single-cell atlases with spatial transcriptomics to understand signaling pathways and gene-regulatory dynamics.
• Explainable AI (XAI): Ensure models provide mechanistic insights into cancer cell states, moving from "black box" predictions to biological understanding.
• Collaboration: Work within a multi-disciplinary team and potentially engage with collaborators across Belgian universities.

• Education: PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Programming: Proficient in Python.
• Machine Learning: Strong experience with frameworks like TensorFlow, Keras, or PyTorch.
• Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Explainable AI (e.g., SHAP, Integrated Gradients).
• Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) and software containers.
• Knowledge of cancer genomics or regulatory biology is a plus.

• Mindset: Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, international team.

• Cutting-Edge Resources: Access to state-of-the-art compute and GPU infrastructure, including H100 and B300 GPU clusters.

The Laboratory of Computational Biology in Leuven (www.aertslab.org), led by VIB.AI Scientific Director Stein Aerts, is seeking a talented postdoctoral researcher to develop next-generation sequence-to-function models for glioblastoma (GBM). Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, characterized by diverse and dynamic cell states that drive treatment resistance and poor prognosis., VIB's core mission is to generate disruptive insights in the molecular underpinning of life and to translate these actively into impactful innovations for patients and society. VIB is an independent research institute where some 1,800 top scientists from Belgium and abroad conduct pioneering basic research. As such, they are pushing the boundaries of what we know about molecular mechanisms and how they rule living organisms such as human beings, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Based on a close partnership with five Flemish universities - Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and Hasselt University - and supported by a solid funding program, VIB unites the expertise of all its collaborators and research groups in a single institute. VIB's technology transfer activities translate research results into concrete benefits for society such as new diagnostics and therapies and agricultural innovations. These applications are often developed by young start-ups from VIB or through collaborations with other companies. This also leads to additional employment and bridges the gap between scientific research and entrepreneurship. VIB also engages actively in the public debate on biotechnology by developing and disseminating a wide range of science-based information.