View Vacancy -- Post-Doctoral Training Fellow in Bioinformatics/Biostatistics - MGU - 204

Open Date
05/05/2016, 23:59
Close Date
13/06/2016, 23:55
MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit

The Mammalian Genetics Unit is a UK Medical Research Council unit at MRC Harwell, an international centre at the forefront of mouse genetics. Located on Harwell Campus, just south of Oxford, it is nestled amongst a vibrant community of leading science organisations. We aim to advance medicine through cutting-edge research into the genetic basis of disease. Our research programs span an entire lifetime, from embryonic development to diseases of ageing. They cover many areas, investigating the underlying genetics in disorders of sex development, the relationship between disrupted circadian rhythms and psychiatric disease, the role of cilia in development and disease, age-related deafness and otitis media, neurodegenerative disease and type 2 diabetes.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 4
Didcot, Oxfordshire
£27,355 - £32,648
Annual Bioinformatics allowance of £6,500 per annum and settlement and training allowances
Fixed Term
Technical & Scientific Professionals
Full Time
3 years and 11 months

We are seeking two talented and motivated postdoctoral researchers in Bioinformatics to join the BioComputing programme at MRC Harwell. The BioComputing team develops computational methods to explore the large volumes of data generated by a number of large scale projects, such as the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (www.mousephenotye.org), and disseminates the results to the wider scientific community (see Hrabé de Angelis et al, Nature Genetics 2015 47(9):969-78 and Yaikhom et al, Nature Methods 2015 12(8):698-9). In order for our data to be informative, it is essential that it is effectively assessed and managed before being made publicly available.

Our research focuses on three main areas; the management and analysis of large- scale mouse phenotyping data, the analysis of NGS and transcriptomics data and 3D systems imaging. The new postdoctoral researchers will join one of these three key areas developing analytical projects. Currently the BioComputing team has 5 postdocs and 2 graduate students working in these three areas, so the postholders would join an exciting and dynamic team, who work closely together.

To join us, you will need:

  • A PhD in an appropriate discipline, e.g. computer science, bioinformatics or related discipline
  • Excellent skills in data analysis, modelling or machine learning
  • Track record of writing papers, as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in high quality journals
  • Excellent communication and organisation skills and a flexible, pro-active approach

These posts are funded by the MRC to support postdoctoral training and to help establish successful research scientists in their chosen field. During the fellowship tenure we are committed to provide mentorship for career development and improvement of communication skills.

 

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

Essential

  • PhD in an appropriate discipline, e.g. computer science, bioinformatics or related discipline

Previous research experience required:

Desirable

  • Excellent skills in data analysis, modelling or machine learning
  • A sound understanding of statistical  concepts
  • Excellent skills in programming, e.g. Python, Perl, C/C++, Java
  • Experience in data visualization
  • Excellent skills in statistical analysis of large data sets using R or MATLAB
  • Track record of writing papers, as  evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in high quality journals
  • NGS and transcriptomics
  • Image Analysis

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential

  • Substantial experience in the analysis and manipulation of large mammalian functional datasets, including accessing databases via MySQL and/or commonly used bioinformatics APIs, such as the Ensembl Perl API
  • Practical experience querying relational databases using SQL
  • Experience building databases and bioinformatics pipelines.
  • Evidence of good data presentation skills

These posts are MRC Postdoctoral Training Fellowships which support post-doctoral training and help establish successful research scientists in their chosen field. During the fellowship tenure we are committed to provide mentorship for career development and improvement of communication skills.

 

Settlement Allowance

A Settlement Allowance of £1,000 will be paid to you, provided that you are within the first year of service with the MRC. If you leave within one year of receiving the allowance you understand that you will have to pay back this allowance.

 

Training Allowance

A training allowance is payable once the RDFP has been set up and a mentor has been identified. Continued receipt of this allowance will be dependent upon your commitment to training and development evidenced through a properly maintained RDFP. The amount of the allowance increases on the anniversary of your start date:-

Year one: £850pa

Year two: £1,300pa

Year three and beyond: £1,800pa

 

Bioinformatics Allowance

An annual allowance of £6,500 is available to bioinformaticians who work within a biological context carrying out research programmes involving the acquisition, analysis and visualization of complex biological data. They must have an IT qualification to degree level, or equivalent, involving programming and database management/development. They need to operate as part of a scientific programme with close interesting with research scientists to develop specialist IT tools.

 

MRC Harwell Mammalian Genetics Unit

The Mammalian Genetics Unit is a UK Medical Research Council unit at MRC Harwell, an international centre at the forefront of mouse genetics. Located on Harwell Campus, just south of Oxford, it is nestled amongst a vibrant community of leading science organisations. We aim to advance medicine through cutting-edge research into the genetic basis of disease. Our research programs span an entire lifetime, from embryonic development to diseases of ageing. They cover many areas, investigating the underlying genetics in disorders of sex development, the relationship between disrupted circadian rhythms and psychiatric disease, the role of cilia in development and disease, age-related deafness and otitis media, neurodegenerative disease and type 2 diabetes.

 

Benefits of working for the MRC

Choosing to come to work at the MRC means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a final salary pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme and childcare vouchers, as well as the chance to put the MRC on your CV in the future.

 

More information about the Mammalian Genetics Unit can be found at http://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/

Please note, interviews for this position will take place on Monday 27th June and Friday 1st July.

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

This opportunity is closed to applications.