| 1. Job Details
Job title: Marie Curie ITN Experienced Researcher
School/Support Department: Institute of Evolutionary Biology
Unit (if applicable):
Line manager: Dr Karim Gharbi
This is a readvertisment of vacancy reference 032142 & 032991. Previous applicants need not apply.
2. Job Purpose
The Marie Curie ITN Experienced Researcher (ER) will provide bioinformatics support and training to the European Commission funded Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) Calcification in a Changing Environment (CACHE). The aim of the CACHE network is to understand calcium regulation and shell production in four commercial bivalve species using co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach. The network brings together 10 partners from 6 European countries, including research institutes, universities and SMEs. The ER will be based at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Dr Karim Gharbi and work in close collaboration with Edinburgh Genomics, the University of Edinburgh high-throughput genomics facility (http://genomics.ed.ac.uk). The ER will coordinate the network’s bioinformatics hub as a central resource and will be expected to travel to collaborating institutions as required by the partners. The ER will work co-operatively with the network’s partners and contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications. Full details on the network may be found at www.cache-itn.eu.
3. Main Responsibilities
1. Performing high-quality data analyses on large-scale genomics and proteomics datasets as required by, and in collaboration, with the network’s partners using local and distributed compute resources. 40%
2. Assisting members of the network in accessing the bioinformatics hub and carrying out, interpreting and publishing bioinformatics analyses, both remotely through online communication and in person through visits to collaborating institutions. 30%
3. Managing the network’s high-throughput data as required by the partners, including data transfer and storage, and submission to databases. 10%
4. Planning, coordinating and delivering bespoke training in bioinformatics analyses as required by the network, including at least one technical workshop 10%
5. Keeping up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field of high-throughput genomics and proteomics. 5%
6. Keeping a comprehensive, high-quality and up-to-date record of tasks performed and reporting to the hub’s lead PI. 5%
4. Planning and Organising
The ER will be responsible for planning data analyses and other activities coordinated by the bioinformatics hub to ensure that the network’s research is conducted in accordance with its deliverables. This will require careful coordination and close collaboration with other members of the network to clearly define the analyses required and to ensure best-practice analyses. The ER will manage and oversee data analyses for several projects running concurrently, and will need to pro-actively manage the workload imposed by each project to ensure that progress is made in a reasonable time frame. The ER will also be responsible for managing the resources available for analyses, in particular ensuring that sufficient data storage and compute resources are allocated to each project.
5. Problem Solving
The ER will be responsible for checking the outputs of the analyses performed to ensure highest confidence in the results using accumulated experience, with assistance available from the hub’s lead PI for the most non-standard issues. The ER will use his/her own initiative to analyse and interpret research data, and draw conclusions from it. The ER will track down software and hardware errors, and devise solutions to rectify them as proactively as possible.
6. Decision Making
The ER will organise her/his own workload according to priorities, and make day-to-day decisions as necessary to ensure timely progress of agreed analyses for each project and other bioinformatics tasks. The ER will identify analytical tools and strategies best suited to each project/dataset in consultation with other members of the network and collaboratively assist other members of the network in interpreting complex data.
7. Key Contacts/Relationships
The ER will work under the guidance of the bioinformatics hub’s lead PI. The ER will maintain close local relationships with bioinformaticians and other staff within Edinburgh Genomics and affiliated research groups. The ER will work collaboratively with members of the CACHE network, including early-stage researchers (PhD students) and principal investigators, as required and develop relationships with key staff at each collaborating institution to ensure fruitful completion of project and training deliverables.
8. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job
Qualifications/Training
Essential
1. Doctoral degree or at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience in equivalent field, in accordance with Marie Curie ITN eligibility criteria.
2. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate bioinformatics concepts efficiently; teaching experience in high-throughput biological data analysis.
Desirable
1. PhD in bioinformatics or computational biology, or PhD in biology with a strong analytical background
Experience
Essential
1. A high level of skill and experience in bioinformatics data analysis and database management, particularly related to next-generation sequencing and proteomic analyses.
2. Several years’ demonstrable experience in computational biology, including shell scripting, R, Python and Perl.
3. Systems administration experience in Linux, UNIX, Microsoft Windows and Mac OSX computing environments.
4. Experience in statistical analyses and integration of large-scale biological datasets.
Desirable
1. Experience in analysing transcriptome data from next-generation sequencing platforms
2. Teaching experience in high-throughput biological data analysis.
Knowledge, Skills and Competencies
Essential
1. Excellent interpersonal skills and efficient time and project management skills.
9. Dimensions
The ER will impact on most partners across the CACHE network. The ER will play a central role in providing bioinformatics assistance and training for 7 institutions across the network, and directly support 9 PhD students in analysing and interpreting large-scale datasets. The ER will also take the lead in the analyses of complex datasets generated by other members of the network.
10. Job Context and any other relevant information
This is prestigious position within a multidisciplinary network of early-stage and established scientists dedicated to pushing forward our understanding of calcium production in the marine environment. The ER will have a key role in supporting the network’s analytical and training deliverables, whilst developing their career with new skill sets at the interface of basic research and commercial exploitation.
Marie Curie ITN eligibility criteria
Experienced Researchers must, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience. ITN Experienced Researchers must also, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, have less than 5 years of full-time equivalent research experience.
Full time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited or seconded, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate is or was ever envisaged
Conditions of nationality and mobility of researchers:
Researchers are normally required to undertake transmobility (ie move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. Two rules apply to the appointment of researchers in a network:
1.Researchers can be nationals of any country other than the country of the premises of the host organisation where they will carry out their project.
2.Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short holidays are not taken into account.
Application Procedure
All applicants should apply online by clicking the apply link at the bottom of this page The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. Please also submit a CV and covering letter.
We anticipate interviews will be held shortly after the closing date. You will be notified by email whether you have been shortlisted for interview or not. The closing date is 5pm on [insert date].
Eligibility to Work
In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 the University of Edinburgh, as an employer, has a legal responsibility to prevent illegal working and therefore must check that all employees are entitled to work in the United Kingdom (UK).
To do so, the University of Edinburgh requires to see original documents evidencing right to work in the UK before commencement of employment and this is normally carried out at interview. Details will be provided in any letter of invitation to interview.
For further information on eligibility to work please visit our eligibility to work website
In the circumstances where the vacancy does not meet the Home Office and Visa Services advertising, salary and/or qualification level criteria for sponsorship the successful applicant must have the existing right to work in the UK.
Conditions of Employment
Pension Scheme
This role is grade ARC and therefore the post holder is automatically included in membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subject to the USS membership criteria, unless they indicate that they choose not to join the Scheme.
For further information please visit our Pensions website.
Salary
The post is on the ARC43/44 scale and attracts an annual salary of £48,692 (if opting for superannuation contributions) or £54,086 (if not opting for superannuation contributions) for 35 hours each week. The role also attracts a mobility allowance paid monthly in addition to the salary. The amount is dependent on the successful applicant’s personal circumstances: £7,631 per annum (for those with no dependants) or £10,902 per annum (for those with dependants).
Salary is paid monthly by direct transfer to your Bank or Building Society account, normally on the 28th of the month. Salaries for part-time staff are calculated on the full-time scales, pro rata to the Standard Working Week.
The University reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole does this information form part of any contract between the University and any individual.
|
