Principal Scientist – Computational Target Biology(m/f/d) Full-time NEW

Principal Scientist – Computational Biology (Single-Cell & Spatial Multiomics)

Location: Heidelberg (EMBL Campus) Company: Cellzome, a GSK Company Working Model: Hybrid Working Hours: Full-time preferred. We are also open to discussing 80% FTE (4-day week) for exceptional candidates.

About Us

At GSK, we unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

At Cellzome, we combine biology, computation, artificial intelligence and data science to understand disease mechanisms and identify the next generation of therapeutic targets. Our Heidelberg research center brings together scientists from multiple disciplines to solve some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Principal Scientist – Computational Biology to help drive target discovery through the analysis and integration of single-cell, spatial and multiomic datasets.

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong computational expertise with biological curiosity and enjoys translating complex data into meaningful scientific insight that directly informs therapeutic strategies.

You will work closely with experimental biologists, clinicians, translational scientists and AI specialists to accelerate discovery programmes.

What You Will Do

• Design and execute analyses of single-cell, spatial and multiomic datasets.
• Transform complex biological data into actionable target discovery insights.
• Build and maintain reproducible analytical workflows and pipelines.
• Integrate transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic and imaging datasets.
• Investigate vascular, immune and tissue-resident cell populations in complex disease environments.
• Generate evidence supporting target prioritisation and validation strategies.
• Partner with biology, translational science, clinical and AI teams.
• Evaluate emerging computational technologies and analytical approaches.
• Help shape biomarker strategies and patient stratification approaches.
• Mentor colleagues and champion computational best practices.
• Communicate findings through presentations, publications and scientific collaborations.

What We're Looking For

Required

• PhD in Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine or a related discipline.
• Strong hands-on experience analysing: single-cell datasets, spatial omics datasets, transcriptomics and multiomic data.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Experience building robust and reproducible analytical workflows.
• Familiarity with tools such as Scanpy, Seurat, Squidpy, similar analytical frameworks.
• Experience applying machine learning approaches to biological datasets.
• Experience integrating different biological data modalities.
• Familiarity with GitHub, GitLab or equivalent version-control practices.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Fluent English.

Preferred

• Experience in vascular biology and/or innate immune biology.
• Knowledge of spatial transcriptomics technologies.
• Experience with AI-enabled analytical workflows.
• Target discovery, translational science or drug discovery experience.
• Scientific publications, conference presentations or open-science contributions.
• Experience mentoring scientists or leading cross-functional initiatives.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to contribute directly to target discovery and future medicines.
• Access to state-of-the-art computational, spatial and single-cell technologies.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Collaborative environment where biology, AI and data science intersect.
• Strong commitment to learning, growth and development.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.

Inclusion & Belonging

We know there is no single route into computational biology or scientific discovery.

If this opportunity excites you, but you do not meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply. Many successful scientists have developed their expertise through different career paths, disciplines and research environments.

At Cellzome and GSK, we are committed to creating an environment where people feel supported, valued and able to contribute fully. We welcome applications from individuals with diverse scientific experiences who are passionate about using computational approaches to better understand disease and advance drug discovery.