Job Description

A Postdoctoral Associate position in AI and Cancer Research is available in the laboratory of Dr. Yu-Chiao Chiu at the University of Pittsburgh, within the Department of Medicine (Division of Malignant Hematology/Medical Oncology) and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. This position is supported by an NIH/NIGMS R35 grant and intramural funding. The successful candidate will engage in bioinformatics research to systematically understand cancer biology, identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and improve cancer therapy. Projects will involve the development of AI solutions, including machine learning, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs), for the analysis of high-throughput multi-omics datasets (especially single-cell and spatial omics) and large textual corpora (e.g., scientific literature).

Our research

The Chiu Lab ( focuses on developing state-of-the-art multimodal AI models for cancer research. Our recent publications have been recognized by both the cancer research and bioinformatics communities, including in Cancer Research Communications ( presented and highlighted at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025),  Science Advances ( highlighted by @NCIgenomics as the #1 favorite paper of the year), and Analytical Chemistry ( We are supported by active funding from the NIH (NIGMS, NCI, and OD), the Leukemia Research Foundation, and institutional sources.

Candidate qualifications

We seek a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who meets the following criteria:

• Recently earned a Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, or a related discipline
• Strong experience in integrating several of the following components:
  • Deep learning and LLMs for molecular biology
  • Multi-omics datasets (e.g., TCGA, TARGET, CCLE)
  • Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics/proteomics
  • High-throughput drug and genetic screens (e.g., DepMap, PRISM)
  • Common bioinformatics resources and pipelines (e.g., NCBI, Ensembl, BWA, STAR, GATK, VarScan, DESeq)
• Proficiency in Linux and programming languages such as Python, R, MATLAB, or Perl
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, along with a collaborative mindset

Career development opportunities

Dr. Chiu has a proven track record of securing prestigious career development awards such as the NIH/NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award and mentoring recipients of the NIH/NCI F30 Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellowships. The selected candidate will receive personalized mentorship in career development planning, competitive award applications, and other resources available through the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (). Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration with clinical, translational, and basic scientists will enable the candidate to apply cutting-edge computational approaches to real-world challenges in precision oncology.

How to apply

Interested candidates should apply at: (Requisition #25002577). Please submit:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• One-page summary of research experience and interests
• Contact information for three references

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For inquiries, contact Dr. Yu-Chiao Chiu at [email protected].

The environment

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine ranks #6 in NIH funding and is a Tier 1 institution in Best Medical Schools: Research. Pittsburgh is consistently ranked among the most livable cities in the U.S., offering a rich environment for work-life balance. The Chiu Lab fosters a collaborative culture, with access to cutting-edge computational and experimental resources in one of the nation’s top NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

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