Postdoctoral Fellow (Spatial Omics / Bioinformatics) 

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow to develop and apply computational methods for spatial multi‑omics. You will work at the interface of sequencing, imaging, and data science to build high‑resolution maps of cell states in tissues relevant to neuroscience, cancer, aging, and immunology.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Priority review begins: January 1, 2026 (open until filled).

About the Gu Lab

The Gu Lab at the University of Washington develops and applies next‑generation spatial omics technologies to address important questions in neuroscience, cancer, aging, and immunology. We integrate array fabrication, sequencing, and computation to generate spatially resolved, single‑cell–scale datasets and convert them into biological insights.

The role

This position is primarily computational. You will lead analysis and method development for Pixel‑seq and our protein‑augmented extensions (ImmunoPixel‑seq), working closely with experimentalists and collaborators. The postdoc is expected to help drive projects from study design through publication, and to contribute to a collaborative and supportive training environment.

Example projects (examples)

•  Spatial mapping of cell states and cell–cell interactions in brain and neuroimmune contexts

•  Spatial profiling of tumor ecosystems (tumor–immune niches, stromal programs, therapy‑associated remodeling)

•  Integration of spatial RNA with antibody‑derived tags / spatial protein readouts to connect transcriptional and protein phenotypes

•  Benchmarking segmentation and spatial domain discovery across tissues and disease settings

What you’ll do

•  Build and run reproducible analysis workflows for Pixel‑seq / ImmunoPixel‑seq (QC → counts → spatial barcode mapping → segmentation → downstream analysis).

•  Develop and benchmark cell segmentation approaches (image‑based and/or transcript‑informed), and establish quantitative QC/validation criteria.

•  Perform single‑cell and spatial analyses (e.g., clustering, annotation/label transfer, spatial neighborhoods/domains, spatial DE, pathway analyses).

•  Create interpretable figures and reports for collaborators; contribute to manuscripts and (as appropriate) grant applications.

•  Help mentor students/trainees on computational best practices (reproducibility, documentation, code review, data organization).

Required qualifications

•  PhD (or near completion) in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Math, EE/Physics, or a closely related field.

•  Strong programming skills in Python (R also welcome); comfort working with large datasets.

•  Solid fundamentals in statistics and/or machine learning.

•  Experience analyzing single‑cell and/or spatial genomics datasets (research experience, dissertation work, or substantial projects).

•  Comfort in Linux and version control (Git); commitment to reproducible research practices.

Preferred qualifications

•  Spatial methods experience (e.g., Scanpy/Squidpy, Seurat, Giotto, scvi‑tools including scVI/scANVI/totalVI).

•  Segmentation / image analysis experience (e.g., Cellpose, StarDist, QuPath, or related tools).

•  Workflow automation (Snakemake/Nextflow), containers (Docker/Apptainer), and HPC/Slurm.

•  Domain familiarity with neuroscience, immunology, cancer biology, or aging biology.

What we offer

•  High‑impact, technology‑driven projects at the frontier of spatial omics.

•  Close mentorship and project ownership with clear paths to first‑author manuscripts.

•  Opportunities to collaborate across UW and with clinical/translational partners.

•  Strong computational + experimental context: you will see the full lifecycle from assay to analysis.

•  An inclusive, collaborative environment that values rigor, openness, and trainee development.

Appointment details

•  Location: Seattle, WA (University of Washington).

•  Start date: flexible (mutually agreed).

•  International applicants are welcome; visa sponsorship and appointment terms follow UW policy.

Compensation & benefits

Salary and benefits follow UW policies for Postdoctoral Scholars and are determined by experience and appointment type.

How to apply

Email Dr. Liangcai Gu at gulc (at) uw.edu with subject line: “Postdoc — Spatial Bioinformatics”

Please include:

1) CV (including publications/preprints),

2) brief cover letter (≤1 page) describing your background, research interests, and why this position is a good fit,

3) a link to a code sample (GitHub, methods repo, or a short example you can share), and

4) contact information for 2–3 references.

(Optional but helpful: 1 representative paper or preprint.)

Equal Opportunity

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.