Researcher – Postdoctoral Researcher

OverviewAre you interested in joining a dynamic and international team of professionals to transform education? IE University's
Research Project department is looking for a
Postdoctoral Researcher – Biophysics-Informed Digital Twins in Clinical Trials to join its team for a
12-month contract 

Are you excited about using cutting-edge AI to transform how clinical trials are designed and analyzed? IE University's Health & MedTech Lab is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Biophysics-Informed Digital Twins to join a multidisciplinary collaboration on AI for clinical trials.

The project aims to develop biophysics-informed neural networks (BioPINNs) that combine physiological and pharmacokinetic knowledge with modern deep learning and causal inference to build digital twins of patients and simulate treatment responses in silico.

You will be embedded in a dynamic, international environment at IE University (Madrid). Your work will sit at the interface of machine learning, biophysics, and clinical research, with clear pathways to impact in trial design and precision medicine. This role will collaborate with industry and academic partners on shared datasets, models, and publications.

The Project

The BI project focuses on Biophysics-Informed Neural Networks for Digital Twins in Clinical Trials:

• Develop a unified BioPINN framework that merges mechanistic physiological/pharmacokinetic models with Universal Differential Equations and Neural ODEs.
• Learn individualized latent states describing patient physiology before and after treatment.
• Build digital twins capable of counterfactual simulation ("what would have happened under another dosing or arm?") to inform trial design and patient stratification.
• Validate the models using both simulated data and available real-world datasets.

Why IE University?With 50 years of experience and founded by and for entrepreneurs, IE University has turned business education on its head through disruptive teaching. We count on high-level faculty who bring real-world experience into the classroom and foster a hands-on approach to learning.  
Our PurposeAt IE University, we foster positive change through education, research, and innovation.As a transformative educational institution, we empower students to make their mark on the world. We provide them with the skills, knowledge and environment needed to make a difference, and they join a supportive and international community that lasts a lifetime.Our spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship has allowed us to drive change and constantly stay at the cutting edge of higher education. And through diversity, we have harnessed the power of people while also understanding and embracing the importance of the humanities.  
Our People At IE, we are:

• People-driven
• Change Builders
• Autonomy Enthusiasts
• Communication Enthusiasts
• Knowledge Champions

 Initial funding is for
12 months, to generate a strong proof-of-concept and high-impact outputs that can support follow-up funding and longer-term collaboration. The position is
full-time and based in
Madrid (IE Tower), with a vibrant scientific and entrepreneurial ecosystem 
Responsibilities
Your role as a Postdoctoral Researcher will involve:

• Lead the development and evaluation of advanced AI models to understand patient trajectories and treatment response.
• Contribute to the design of digital twin and counterfactual simulation frameworks to support decision-making in clinical trials.
• Drive scientific dissemination through publications, presentations, and open-source software.
• Support grant-writing efforts and help shape the future direction of the project and related collaborations.
• Mentor students or junior researchers and actively contribute to a collaborative, open research culture within the Health & MedTech Lab.

Qualifications
To thrive in this role, you should possess the following qualifications:

A strong combination of technical excellence, scientific curiosity, and a collaborative mindset.

Essential qualifications

• PhD (completed or near completion) in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• Strong background in machine learning / deep learning, with experience in at least one of:
  • Time-series modeling, sequence models, or longitudinal data
  • Differential equation–based models (Neural ODEs, PINNs, UDEs)
  • Probabilistic modeling, Bayesian methods, or uncertainty quantification
• Excellent programming skills in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
• Demonstrated research track record (publications, preprints, or strong thesis) in machine learning, computational modeling, or related fields.
• Experience working with real-world data (preferably health/clinical, or biomedical datasets) and comfort with data wrangling, preprocessing, and exploratory analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Fluency in English (Spanish is not required).

Highly valued (but not strictly mandatory)

• Experience with causal inference, counterfactual modeling, or treatment-effect estimation.
• Familiarity with pharmacokinetic or physiological modeling.
• Experience with software engineering best practices.
• Experience in interdisciplinary collaborations involving clinicians, biologists, or industry partners.

What We Offer

• A full-time postdoctoral position (12 months) based in Madrid (IE Tower), within the Health & MedTech Lab.
• The opportunity to build collaborations with top-tier academic and industry partners.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact problems at the interface of AI, biophysics, and clinical research, with tangible applications to clinical trials and patient care.
• Access to a modern computational environment (high-end workstation, HPC resources as available).
• Support for travel and dissemination (conferences, workshops, partner visits).
• A stimulating, international, and entrepreneurial environment within IE University, with opportunities to contribute to teaching, mentoring, and innovation activities if desired.

Equal Opportunities

At IE University, we actively promote equal opportunities in recruitment and access to employment. We ensure the absence of bias based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ethnic origin, or disability throughout the entire selection process.

Unleash your full potential and make an impact. The next move is yours 
If you want to be part of this educational revolution, we invite you to apply and be part of our dynamic team at
IE University.  
At IE University, we actively promote equal opportunities in recruitment processes and access to employment, always ensuring the absence of gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ethnic origin, or disability bias throughout the entire selection process.

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