EMBL-EBI-Sanger postdoctoral fellowships

The EMBL-EBI–Sanger Postdoctoral (ESPOD) Programme builds on the collaborative relationship between EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, offering projects that combine experimental (wet-lab) and computational (dry-lab) approaches.

Both institutions are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus: their proximity fosters great opportunities for close collaborations. Our researchers have easy access to scientific expertise, well-equipped facilities and an active seminar programme.

Position: EMBL-EBI/Sanger postdoctoral fellowship (ESPOD)


Duration: 36 months. Start date must be within 12 months of the fellowship being awarded.


Funding: EMBL stipend rates (monthly rate of £3,535.78 after tax excl. pension and insurances)


Application open: The 2026 call opens on Monday 27th July and closes on Sunday 27th September 2026


Interviews: Thursday 10th December 2026. Interviews will be in person at the Wellcome Genome Campus.


2026 ESPOD projects

You may select your project from the pre-defined topics listed below. It is possible in your application to select more than one project area but only up to a maximum of three.

If you do decide to apply for multiple projects, you may wish to explain your motivation for this in your cover letter.

Alternatively, you may also propose your own project outside the areas below, as long as it involves at least one group from both EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. If you choose to propose a project that is not on the list, submit a full description (maximum: 1000 words) to the PIs you would like to work with for discussion. This description must be approved by the group leaders involved before you submit the application or your application will be rejected.

Please find the pre-defined topic descriptions below:

Project 1: Tim Coorens and Henry Lee-Six groups

Spatial methylation barcodes to track clones in human tissues. Read more.

Project 2: Jess Ewald and Roser Vento-Tormo groups

Predicting Cell-Type-Specific Endocrine Disruption by Environmental Chemicals. Read more.

Project 3: John Lees, Nicholas Croucher and Ewan Harrison groups

Pathogen antigen discovery and immune profiling. Read more.

Project 4: Jess Ewald and Gosia Trynka groups

Learning 3D Morphological Programmes of T Cell Activation. Read more.

Project 5: Julio Saez-Rodriguez and Gosia Trynka groups

Tracing genetic variant effects across molecular scales in human immune cells. Read more.

Project 6: Emily Clark and Kamil Jaron groups

Enabling comparative genomics of heterogametic sex chromosomes. Read more.

Project 7: Julio Saez-Rodriguez and Matthew Garnett groups

Characterization of colorectal cancer cell states as a function of their microbial microenvironment. Read more.

Project 8: Tim Coorens and Jyoti Nangalia groups

Methylation changes underpinning cancer and other diseases. Read more.

Application procedure

All applications for both the predefined projects listed above and self-proposed projects must be submitted through the EMBL jobs page. Here you will find a form to complete and a questionnaire to specify which project/s you are applying for. Applications through any other route cannot be accepted.

All applications must include:

  • A cover letter describing your interests and experience relevant to the project/s you are applying for (pre-defined or proposed by the applicant)
  • Your Curriculum Vitae
  • Two recent letters of reference (referees may be contacted during the shortlisting process for further information)

Self-proposed project applications must also include a project description (maximum: 1000 words), which has been approved by the group leaders you wish to work with before submission.

Your application will not be considered if it is missing any of the above.

If you have any questions about the project areas above, please contact the relevant group leaders. If you have any questions about the application process or the ESPOD scheme itself, please email us on: ESPOD@ebi.ac.uk.

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