Main Purpose of the Job

We are looking for a talented Senior Bioinformatician/ Bioinformatician to join the Swarbreck Group (Core Bioinformatics) at the Earlham Institute based in Norwich.

Take a lead role in developing computational pipelines and software tools. The successful candidate will design, build and evaluate bioinformatic software tools and pipelines for efficient processing of a diverse array of high-throughput genomic data.

Exploring and implementing best-practices for sequencing QC, sequence assembly, gene annotation, variant detection, regulatory genomics and comparative genomics. Work with biologists, bioinformatics scientists, analysts and other specialists to implement and augment data analysis software and pipelines according to requirements and specifications. Collaborate with EI researchers and computational scientists from UK and international institutions, conducting bioinformatic analyses. Lead analysis and software development projects, with responsibility for delivery and interactions with internal and external groups. Work on a wide variety of bioinformatics projects in conjunction with our internal science faculty as well as external customers and collaborators.

Key Relationships

Reporting to David Swarbreck (Head of Core Bioinformatics) and interacting on a daily basis with members of the core bioinformatics group. Wiill work closely with members of the Technical Genomics team and bioinformaticians in the Papatheodorou group, as well as project stakeholders and other interdisciplinary teams across the Earlham, Norwich Research Campus and external collaborators. 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Explore new analytical algorithms for determining biological insights from large-scale data sets, develop software and enhance data processing and analysis tools.

20

Utilise modern workflow management and containerisation systems to automate complex workflows.

20

Perform data analysis, such as genome assembly, variant calling, annotation, pangenomics and metagenomic analysis.

20

Collaborate with EI faculty groups and UK and international partners on large-scale projects.

20

Follow prescribed practices for software version control, documentation, testing, and release engineering.

10

Keep up to date with modern software engineering best practices, data analysis best practices and new technologies.

5

Communicate the work of EI in oral (both in internal seminars and external conferences) and written presentations and to publish novel findings and technology/tool development in scientific journals.

5

As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post.

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

PhD or equivalent working experience in bioinformatics, software development, computer science, or related discipline

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Familiarity with software version control such as GIT

Essential

Demonstrable understanding in the fields of genomics, data processing and high-throughput data analysis

Essential

Knowledge of modern workflow management and containerisation systems

Essential

Excellent programming skills in various languages (ideally including Python, R, shell scripting) including the ability to interpret legacy code

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience designing and implementing computational methods, tools and algorithms for large scale data analysis

Essential

Experience with workflow management systems e.g. snakemake, WDL- cromwell, NextFlow

Essential

Have experience using High Performance Computing (HPC) resources and job scheduling systems

Essential

Experience establishing / leading on collaborations and managing tasks/projects [essential for SC5 role]

Desirable

Experience in (co-)supervision of Master and/or PhD students or management / training of co-workers

Desirable

Demonstrable experience developing bioinformatics software [essential for SC5 role]

Desirable

Experience with next generation sequencing and large-scale data analysis

Desirable

Management and Leadership

Requirement

Importance

Coordinate work with others on collaborative projects

Essential

Ability to lead projects to a successful conclusion [essential for SC5 role]

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Ability to communicate and work effectively (verbal and written) with all levels of management & staff

Essential

Strong time management, organisational and record keeping skills

Essential

Capable of working with domain specialists to gather system requirements

Essential

Capable of writing academic papers

Essential

Ability to follow instructions / Standard Operating Procedures

Essential

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Partnership, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to participate in occasional training of other institute members and visitors, and as part of formal training programmes hosted at the institute

Essential

Earlham Institute

About the Earlham Institute
The Earlham Institute is a hub of life science research, training, and innovation focused on understanding the natural world through the lens of genomics.

We are building a future where the biology of any organism can be understood by analysing its genome. Our mission is to decode the scale and complexity of living systems so we can understand, benefit from, and protect life on Earth.

The Earlham Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Our Science
Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make predictions about biology.

We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture
The Earlham Institute champions 'team science'. Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally.

The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us.

We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

For more information about working at the Earlham Institute, please click here.

Further Information:

Our Vision and Mission

Our Strategy

Our Culture

Life at Earlham Institute

Department

Research Faculty

Group Details

The Core Bioinformatics Group led by David Swarbreck provides high quality computational analyses of a range of sequence data types and develops software and analysis pipelines that support the Institute's Strategic Programmes and National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (NBRI) for Transformative Genomics. The NBRI provides access to state of the art genomics technologies for research groups throughout the UK as well as delivering sequencing and genomics services to the associated Science Faculty groups and commercial customers. The group is involved in the analysis of sequence data from a wide variety of sequencing platforms and works alongside Earlham research groups to establish new software tools and analysis methods.

Living in Norfolk

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Senior Bioinformatician / Bioinformatician

We are looking for a talented Senior Bioinformatician/ Bioinformatician to join the Swarbreck Group (Core Bioinformatics) at the Earlham Institute based in Norwich.

Background:

The Core Bioinformatics Group led by David Swarbreck provides high quality computational analyses of a range of sequence data types and develops software and analysis pipelines that support the Institute's Strategic Programmes and National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (NBRI) for Transformative Genomics. The NBRI provides access to state-of-the-art genomics technologies for research groups throughout the UK as well as delivering sequencing and genomics services to the associated Science Faculty groups and commercial customers. The group is involved in the analysis of sequence data from a wide variety of sequencing platforms and works alongside Earlham research groups to establish new software tools and analysis methods.

The role:

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, and running high-throughput computational pipelines that assure timely and accurate processing of sequencing data from EI’s numerous and varied sequencing platforms. They will utilise EI's considerable high performance computational resources to analyse data from the latest sequencing technologies. The role will work independently and closely with Bioinformatics Scientists, Analysts and other specialists to implement and augment data analysis software and pipelines. They will be responsible for disseminating research findings through attendance at international conferences, and publishing results in leading scientific journals or through other relevant media.

As part of this role, you will:

• Utilise modern workflow management and containerisation systems to automate complex workflows. Building scalable, tested and validated pipelines for a diverse range of applications.
• Continue development and extend existing pipelines for the processing of genomics and transcriptomics data
• Run analysis workflows on a range of data types in conjunction with Earlham colleagues and external collaborators / customers.
• Developing scripts and plugins for existing software.
• Define guidelines and generate documentation to support tools and analysis workflows.
• Collaborate with EI faculty groups and UK and international partners on large-scale projects.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians, interns or visitors.

The ideal candidate:

The successful candidate will possess a PhD or equivalent experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science or a similar subject. They will also have a strong background and interest in developing computational tools, pipelines and algorithms.

Candidates should possess a high level of skill and demonstrable experience of building tools and pipelines in Python, along with R and Bash scripting. Familiarity with cluster compute environments and workflow management systems e.g. snakemake, NextFlow is also essential.

The ideal candidate will also be highly collaborative and have demonstrable experience of successfully managing their time to deliver analyses and input into multiple projects

The Senior Bioinformatician post is available at the SC5 level for candidates with demonstrable ability to lead projects and develop novel computational methods and pipelines. Applications will also be considered for the SC6 Bioinformatician role.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £35,300 to £37,800 per annum depending on qualifications and experience for the SC6 level role, and £43,550 to £47,500 per annum for candidates who meet the SC5 level criteria. This is a full-time post for a contract of 3 years

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 22 July 2024.