Bioinformatician
Closing date for application: 14th of March
Reference Number 024544 Location Garscube Campus College / Service COLLEGE OF MVLS Department RI INFECTION IMMUNITY & INFLAMMATION Job Family Research And Teaching Position Type Full Time Salary Range £28,660 - £32,236 Job Purpose
The post holder will join the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) (http://www.cvr.ac.uk/) and will carry out computer-based research on the evolution of HIV-1, perform data analysis and develop novel analytical approaches for the analysis of sequence variation and molecular phylogenetics. The postholder will implement a virus outbreak cluster detection pipeline in collaboration with the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre and contribute to a sequence-based HIV-1 resource using the GLUE framework developed at CVR to study constraints on virus evolution.
The post holder will also be expected to contribute to formulating and submitting research publications and research proposals, as well as to assist in delivering this complex and challenging project.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist and contribute to the CVR’s research objectives, in collaboration with other bioinformaticians and CVR researchers, and in accordance with the project’s deliverables.
- Perform internationally competitive research in the analysis of virus and host data sets.
- Implement an HIV-1 epidemiologically-significant cluster detection pipeline in collaboration with the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre.
- Contribute to the development of a sequence-based HIV-1 resource for the characterisation of constraints on HIV-1 sequence variation from RNA and protein structure using the GLUE framework developed at CVR.
- Participate in external research collaborations, and present research at national and international research workshops or conferences.
- Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation, and that of the University of Glasgow and CVR, including writing and contributing to publications of international quality journals, enhancing research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit.
- Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
- Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops across the research group/CVR and wider community (e.g. with academic partners).
- Keep up-to-date with relevant bioinformatics literature, practical knowledge base, and recent advances in the field/discipline.
- Engage in personal, professional and career development to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with the role.
- Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Glasgow 2020 - A Global Vision.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
A1 Honours degree (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 10). May be working towards or completed a Masters degree (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11) in either bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science or mathematics; OR equivalent professional qualifications in a relevant academic/research discipline, and experience of personal development in a similar role.
Desirable
B1 Working towards or completed PhD or equivalent degree in a related field.
Skills
Essential
C1 Excellent data analysis skills.
C2 Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
C3 Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
C4 Time, project and budget management skills.
C5 Ability to write software appropriate to research projects.
C6 Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
C7 Ability to take on a supervisory role.
Experience
Essential
E1 Demonstrated experience of computer-based research.
E2 Experience in a programming language, e.g. JAVA, Python and/or Perl.
E3 Experience in statistical programming, e.g. R or related software, and/or machine learning applications.
E4 Experience in writing scientific reports or publications.
E5 Experience of delivering research/technical support seminars.
E6 Experience in Unix/Linux operating systems.
Desirable
F1 Experience of web development, e.g. use of JavaScript/JSON.
F2 Experience of working with genome sequence data and molecular phylogenetics.
F3 Experience of database management and development.
F4 Track record in the writing software for data processing and analysis.
Job Features
Dimensions
- Carry out a range of research activities and functions within academic environments of the highest international quality.
- Publish as appropriate to subject specialism within agreed timescales.
- Informally supervise and support less experienced members of the project team, e.g. postgraduate and project students.
- Engage in personal, professional and career development to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
Planning and Organising
- Effective organisation to manage time and prioritise research and administrative duties as appropriate.
- Efficient responses to daily queries from researchers.
- Plan and organize practical work on a weekly or monthly basis.
- Discuss and implement data processing requirements with PIs and other investigators.
- Self-generation of work through innovation and long-term planning in all activities.
Decision Making
- Prioritise own work.
- Prioritise requests for help and inform collaborators of progress.
- Decide appropriate tools for specific tasks.
- Determine relevance of results to individual projects.
Internal/External Relationships
- Director of the CVR and the Head of Bioinformatics for management and strategic aspects of post.
- Centre researchers for project design, implementation and publication.
- Academic, administrative and student support services as appropriate.
- External collaborators for project design, implementation and publication, and for maximizing community benefits via public databases.
Problem Solving
- Research including technical and theoretical aspects, problem solving and development of novel ideas.
- Assistance of undergraduate/postgraduate students and junior team members with problems relating to research project.
Other
- Represent the CVR and the University of Glasgow through presentation at national and international events.
- Attend training events to learn and implement new research technologies.
- Be prepared to travel to meetings in the UK/Europe and elsewhere as required by the University.
Athena Swan
The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. The Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation has achieved a Bronze Award. Further information at http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/iii/athenaswan/
The Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation supports the principle of flexible working and undertakes that all requests will be considered seriously.
The University of Glasgow is committed to promoting equality in all its activities and aims to provide a work, learning, research and teaching environment free from discrimination and unfair treatment.
Additional Information
We are seeking to appoint a bioinformatician/computer scientist/software developer to join our expanding bioinformatics team and enhance the research activities of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) at the University of Glasgow (http://www.cvr.ac.uk/). The Bioinformatics Group comprises eight MRC-funded researchers embedded in the Centre (http://www.bioinformatics.cvr.ac.uk/). They have extensive expertise in analysing next generation sequencing data, metagenomics, transcriptomics, molecular phylogenetics, software engineering and database development.
The establishment of the CVR in 2010 represents a partnership between the Medical Research Council and the University of Glasgow, and is home to the UK's largest grouping of human and veterinary virologists who carry out multidisciplinary research on viruses and viral diseases, translating the knowledge gained for the improvement of health and benefit of society. The CVR's collegiate and collaborative environment fosters a broad research portfolio with studies spanning molecular, structural and cellular levels, through to the individual host and affected population, integrating molecular and structural virology, cell biology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, mathematical modelling, viral genomics and bioinformatics.
The CVR is developing its viral genomics and bioinformatics programme, and efforts are currently focussed on the development of novel data analysis strategies and software tools that can be used to answer questions of importance to our understanding of viral biology, evolution, emergence, transmission and diagnosis. The CVR brings together basic virologists, computer-based researchers and bioinformaticians, and has advanced IT infrastructure and the facilities to handle viruses at various biosafety containment levels. Uniquely, the bioinformaticians are solely dedicated to virology and are experts in viral genomics, systems virology and evolution. The CVR is also an OIE Collaborating Centre for Viral Genomics and Bioinformatics.
The postholder will be expected to work with the bioinformatics team and other researchers, contributing to two HIV-1 focussed projects. The postholder will implement the HIV cluster detection pipeline for the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (WoSSVC) for data arising from diagnostic sequencing and develop tools for the visualization of the results, and perform data analysis as appropriate. The postholder will also contribute to the development of a sequence-based HIV-1 resource for the characterisation of constraints on HIV-1 sequence variation from RNA and protein structure using the GLUE framework developed at CVR. Candidates with a background in bioinformatics, computer science, evolutionary, computational and/or systems biology, biostatistics, machine learning, software development are encouraged to apply.
Attendance at workshops, conferences and training courses will be expected, including a willingness to contribute to local and international training courses.
This position is full time and has funding until 31/03/20.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Joseph Hughes (joseph.hughes@glasgow.ac.uk) or Prof David Robertson (david.l.robertson@glasgow.ac.uk).
Standard Terms & Conditions
Salary will be on the University’s Research and Teaching Grade, level 6, £28,660 - £32,236 per annum.
This post has funding up to 31 March 2020.
New entrants to the University will be required to serve a probationary period of 6 months.
The successful applicant will be eligible to join the Universities' Superannuation Scheme. Further information regarding the scheme is available from the Superannuation Officer, who is also prepared to advise on questions relating to the transfer of Superannuation benefits.
All research and related activities, including grants, donations, clinical trials, contract research, consultancy and commercialisation are required to be managed through the University’s relevant processes (e.g. contractual and financial), in accordance with the University Court’s policies.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment.
We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equality.
Informal enquires should be directed to Dr Joseph Hughes (joseph.hughes@glasgow.ac.uk) or Prof David Robertson (david.l.robertson@glasgow.ac.uk).
The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401.
Vacancy Reference: 024544
