Bioinformatician

Job Purpose
To provide high-quality informatics support to the Gray Lab within the School of Infection and Immunity. In addition to aiding the research group by performing robust and publishable statistical analyses, developing and maintaining software pipelines, and management of data, the postholder will contribute to projects defining the biology of COPD and Cystic Fibrosis using spatial transcriptomics and single cell RNA sequencing. The postholder will report to Professor Robert Gray (Principal Investigator).

Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Assist and contribute to the group's research objectives, in collaboration with other bioinformaticians and researchers, and in accordance with the project's deliverables.
2. Perform internationally competitive research in the analysis of genomics and post-genomics data.
3. Provide analytical and statistical expertise, and algorithms for data from genome sequencing and other experimental approaches.
4. Develop and apply innovative computational approaches for the analysis of large sequence datasets from spatial transcriptomics and/or proteomics technologies to support the research group.
5. Provide professional advice and training in data analysis for researchers.
6. Participate in external research collaborations, and present research at national and international research workshops or conferences.
7. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students, less experienced members of the group and external training courses on genomics.
8. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation, and that of the University of Glasgow, including writing and contributing to publications of international quality journals, enhancing research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit.
9. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
10. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
11. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops across the research area and wider community.
12. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group, including budget and expenditure monitoring.
13. Keep up-to-date with relevant bioinformatics literature, practical knowledge base, and recent advances in the field/discipline.
14. Engage in personal, professional and career development to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with the role.
15. Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, funding, collaborating and publishing research, and mentoring colleagues.
16. Develop a track record of independent and joint published research to establish and maintain your expert reputation in the subject area.
17. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop/implement a suitable research strategy.
18. Undertake any other duties of equivalent standing as assigned by the PI and/or Bioinformatics Team Leader.
19. Contribute to the enhancement of the University's international profile in line with the University's Strategic Plan.

For Appointment at Grade 7:
20. Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, funding, collaborating and publishing research.
21. Help develop and maintain external collaborations, nationally and internationally in line with the project goals.
22. A track record of independent and joint published research to establish and maintain your expert reputation in the subject and related areas.
23. Sustain an international profile for the project through presentation of results at national and international conferences.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential Knowledge/Qualifications:
A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework Level 10 (Honours Degree) in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science or mathematics, in a biological domain, or equivalent professional qualifications in a relevant academic/research discipline and experience of personal development in a similar role.
A2. Confirmation of publication(s) in appropriate-impact international scientific journals displaying practical application of transcriptomic datasets.
A3. Evidence of ability to programme and develop data analysis pipelines using Python.

Desirable Knowledge/Qualifications:
B1. An active interest in web programming or database applications.
B2. Evidence of working within the domain of respiratory diseases.

For Appointment at Grade 7:
A4. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) in a relevant subject such as life sciences, bioinformatics or respiratory biology with post-doctoral experience in a similar or related role or equivalent professional qualifications in a relevant academic/research discipline.
A5. Sufficient breadth and/or depth of knowledge in the specialist subject/discipline, including independence illustrated by support or development of analysis pipelines and tools.

Essential Skills:
C1. Excellent data analysis skills.
C2. Excellent communication skills.
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. Proven initiative to take on a supervisory role.
C8. Capability to communicate highly complex/technical information and data verbally and in writing for a range of audiences.
C9. Demonstrated software or related outputs of high impact.
C10. Ability to supervise projects to successful delivery.

Desirable Skills:
D1. Object-oriented programming skills.
D2. Experience developing web-based tools.

For Appointment at Grade 7:
C11. Proven ability to write code and set-up data analysis pipeline for spatial transcriptomics data.
C12. Demonstrated ability to contribute to published research in spatial transcriptomics.

Essential Experience:
E1. Demonstrable experience of bioinformatics/computer-based research in a biological domain.
E2. Proficient in scientific writing.
E3. Proven ability to produce high-quality research outputs and deliver work efficiently to agreed deadlines.
E4. Experience in programming with Python and the integration of Python and R data analysis tools to generate novel analysis pipelines.
E5. Sufficient breadth and/or depth of knowledge in the specialist subject/discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within the subject area of CF and COPD, including independence illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, the design/analysis of experiments and the drafting of scientific publications.
E6. Evidence of optimising the presentation and dissemination of complex results/data.
E7. Experience of communicating with PIs to understand the bioinformatics analysis requirements and explain the techniques used and results generated.
E8. Confirmation of leading on highly complex data analysis and interpretation for inclusion in high impact papers.
E9. Experience of analysing single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic datasets generated using CosMx and related platforms.

For Appointment at Grade 7:
E10. Experience of leading on highly complex data analysis for spatial transcriptomic data.

Desirable Experience:
F1. Demonstrated expertise in genomics and post-genomics analysis, data warehousing, statistical analysis.
F2. Evidence of continued professional development and skills enhancement since completion of an MSc programme.
F3. Working knowledge and practical proficiency in UNIX, Perl, SQL and relational databases, web services and XML.
F4. Proficiency in statistical computing in R.
F5. Expertise in database management and development.
F6. Proven track record in developing software for data processing and analysis.
F7. Expertise in genomics, transcriptomics and/or proteomics data analyses.
F8. Evidence of successful academic and/or industrial collaboration.
F9. Demonstrated ability to design and deliver bioinformatics training.

Terms and Conditions
This post is full-time and has funding until 31 December 2029. Salary will be Grade 6/7 £34,630 - £38,448 / £41,885 - £46,970 per annum.

Benefits include 41 days of leave for full-time staff, generous pension, benefits and discount packages, flexible working, and a commitment to health and wellbeing including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff.

The University of Glasgow is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Applications are particularly welcome from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and other under-represented groups. The University endorses the principles of Athena Swan and holds bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.