Job description
Bioinformatics
Hinxton, UK
In this job
Your role
You have
You might also have
Why join us
What else you need to know
More about EMBL-EBI
Part of Ensembl, a world leading provider of genomics data resources and bioinformatics software tools. The HAVANA team creates foundational gene annotation for the GENCODE project (a worldwide annotation resource). Our Team is formed of bioinformaticians and expert manual gene annotators, and a core drive is the development of automated methods to incorporate high quality transcript models built from long-read transcriptomic datasets into GENCODE gene annotation.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates who possess scientific curiosity and initiative. You are a highly motivated bioinformatician joining a collaborative project with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to create a comprehensive annotation of full-length alternatively spliced transcripts - a Reference Human Transcriptome - for all human protein-coding genes.
You will have good communication and interpersonal skills, and be a self-starter who can manage your own time. The key attributes sought are the ability to work in a team, excellent attention to detail, solid problem-solving skills, good communication skills, and the desire to learn and improve. Furthermore, you should demonstrate your ability to communicate both biological and computational ideas (orally and in writing)
Your role
In this role you will also:
Develop methods to identify unannotated transcripts so they can be targeted for sequencing
Assess the coverage of the reference annotation catalogue
Monitor the progress made towards completeness.
Produce and analyse gene annotation.
Collaborate with Dana Farber Cancer Institute Work with state-of-the-art long transcriptomic data and transcript capture methods to improve gene annotation
Produce high-quality comprehensive annotation of alternatively spliced transcripts for human protein-coding genes
Develop and improve computational tools and pipelines
Develop machine learning methods to improve automation
Develop metrics for completeness of the annotation and track progress over time
Closing date: 20 August 2023
Contract duration: 3 years
Grading: Grade 5 - 6 (monthly salary starting at £3,090 - £3,456 after tax) plus other paid benefits depending on personal circumstances
Reference number: EBI02144
You have
Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
Solid understanding of genomics, genetics, and molecular biology principles.
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or Perl, and experience working with large datasets.
An ability to grow and learn
The ability to collaborate with both internal and external teams to advance the field of genome annotation.
Strong communication skills, including verbal and written
You might also have
Previous experience working as part of a large collaborative effort would be advantageous, including a record of participating in working groups and international consortia.
Proven knowledge of pipeline workflows, software design, automation and deployment is desirable, as is evidence of working in a dynamic, team-based environment or contributing to a large, shared code-base.
You will also have domain knowledge of genome annotation, the biology of gene expression, current methods for DNA sequencing and sequence alignment
Why join us
Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
Flexible working arrangements
Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays
Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For more details please see our employee benefits page.
Working at EMBL-EBI
Join our diverse team and help power the next generation of discoveries in the life sciences.
I often find myself involved with completely new tasks that require me to be dynamic and learn a whole new set of skills. You arrive here with a set of skills and knowledge, but you will probably leave having learned a lot more.
Mateus Patricio, Bioinformatician
What else you need to know
Contract duration: This position is a 3 year grant based position.
International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment in our recruitment processes here.
Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.
How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system.
Interview: We plan to interview first week in September.