Flatiron Research Fellow - Biological Transport Networks, Center for Computational Biology

About the Center for Computational Biology

The Center for Computational Biology (CCB), an in‑house research center of the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute, develops rigorous modeling tools and theory for understanding biological processes and creates computational frameworks to analyze large, complex data sets from quantitative experimental technologies. CCB brings together experts in genomics, molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, whose work is informed by applied mathematics, statistical inference, artificial intelligence/machine learning, biophysics, and computer science. The goal is to enable ambitious, long‑term, interdisciplinary research that leads to a quantitative and predictive understanding of biological phenomena and to produce high‑quality, well‑tested, versatile, and extensible software across its research areas. CCB comprises more than 50 scientists ranging from Ph.D. holders to senior scientists, plus visiting scientists, guest researchers, affiliated graduate students and interns, integrating theory, computation, and experimentation from problem conceptualization onward.

About the Biological Transport & Networks Group

Led by Eleni Katifori, the Biological Transport Networks group uses theory and computation, in close collaboration with experimentalists, to understand how biological networks develop, remodel, and function. The group investigates how local physical processes—fluid flow, tissue deformation, and transport of nutrients and signaling molecules—give rise to network architecture and collective behavior. Research connects physics, applied mathematics, and biology to uncover general principles explaining the diversity of transport networks across organisms and the common constraints shaping their organization. Current work spans vertebrate vascular development and remodeling, cilia‑ and body‑contraction‑driven circulation in jellyfish, the interplay between tissue mechanics and vascular transport, and transport‑informed models of neuronal growth and maturation. Central questions include how adaptation produces hierarchical or looped architectures, how pulsatile flows influence network development and function, and how nonlinearities and vessel compliance affect transport. The group combines analytical models, large‑scale numerical simulations, AI/ML methods, and quantitative analysis of experimental data to link single‑vessel processes with whole‑network behavior, and also studies how adaptive physical networks can learn, store memory, and perform tasks via local interactions, with applications to fluidic and mechanical systems.

Position Description

Flatiron Research Fellows in CCB are postdoctoral‑level researchers with backgrounds in applied mathematics, statistics, computational biology, biophysics, computer science, engineering, mathematical physics, or related disciplines. Reporting to the Group Lead, Fellows are expected to carry out an active research program that can be independently directed or involve substantial collaboration with other CCB or Flatiron Institute members. In addition to research, Fellows help build the CCB and Flatiron scientific community by participating in seminars, colloquia, and group meetings; developing software, mathematical, and computational expertise through internal education opportunities; and sharing knowledge via publications, presentations, and/or software releases, with financial support from the Institute. Fellows have access to the Flatiron Institute’s powerful scientific computing resources. The start date is flexible, with the Fellow expected to begin no later than September 2027. Applications will be reviewed beginning in Fall 2026 and considered on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Initial appointments are generally for two years, with the possibility of a third‑year renewal contingent on performance; Fellows may be eligible for subsidized housing within walking distance of CCB.

Responsibilities

• Performing theoretical and computational research
• Developing, implementing and maintaining scientific software
• Participating in the organization of CCB and Flatiron‑wide collaborative activities including seminars, workshops and meetings
• Participating in the preparation of manuscripts for publication and of presentations at scientific conferences
• Assisting in student mentorship
• Sharing expertise and providing training and guidance to CCB staff and visitors as needed

Qualifications

Education: Ph.D. in a relevant field (applied mathematics, statistics, computational biology, biophysics, computer science, engineering, mathematical physics, or related disciplines).

• Demonstrated abilities in mathematical modeling, analysis and/or scientific computation, scientific software and algorithm development, data analysis and inference, and image analysis
• Ability to do original and outstanding research in computational biology, and expertise in computational methods, data analysis, software and algorithm development, modeling machine learning, and scientific simulation
• Ability to work well in an interdisciplinary environment, and to collaborate with experimentalists
• Strong oral and written communication, data documentation, and presentation skills

Compensation

The full‑time annual compensation for this position is USD $95,000.

Benefits

The Simons Foundation provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.