Bioinformatician

Your role will be to provide bioinformatics support, alongside the Senior Bioinformatician, to scientists throughout VRD and so the work will encompass a diverse group of pathogens in various healthcare contexts. You will help to grow the expertise in sequence analysis throughout the VRD units by working in close collaboration with growing numbers of bioinformatics-focused microbiologists. Surveillance sequence data are continuously deposited in the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network’s online surveillance platform. Your role will include maintenance and further development of those databases and websites, and to support the WHO network scientists around the world who submit and analyse data on the platform. You will help to design, implement and validate bioinformatics analytical pipelines to generate high quality genome sequence using the latest technologies, contributing of the growing array of whole genome sequence assays provided by the VRD.

Main Duties of the Job

BIOINFORMATICS

• To be responsible for reviewing developments in bioinformatics and, in collaboration with scientists, implementing new technology in the laboratory.
• Undertake whole genome analyses of pathogen data to address evolutionary and epidemiological questions.
• Contribute to the design of routine high-throughput sequencing assays.
• Contribute to the implementation of substantial, scalable informatics solutions for collection, storage, analysis of, and web-based access to clinical and molecular data.
• Develop bioinformatics solutions to allow comprehensive and appropriate interaction between central and local databases.
• Provide expert and specialist advice on scientific and technical solutions for bioinformatics.
• Responsible for the secure handling, storage and retrieval of sensitive data.
• Troubleshooting/fault-finding on software programmes specific to bioinformatics needs.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

• In conjunction with system managers and laboratory managers, ensure the validity of information generated from the laboratory information systems and design, organise and participate in data quality audits.

• To be involved in the development of web-based strategies for dissemination of information at directorate and local UKHSA level and act as a Web Administrator for such web sites.
• Online database maintenance.

Other

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Professional development

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Essential Criteria:

• A Higher Degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Science or related subject or equivalent experience.
• Experience of processing Illumina or Nanopore datasets to yield high-quality data.
• Experience using bioinformatics software for sequence assembly, editing, alignment and analysis.
• Expertise in large-scale analyses of molecular sequence data.
• Evidence of programming experience in the Python language e.g., in publicly accessible source code repositories or peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience using a Linux-based or other POSIX-compliant computing platform.
• Ability to work independently and take responsibility for own technical work and time.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to liaise with a range of health professionals and/or scientific staff.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision-making.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short-, medium- and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

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