Bioinformatician – Sequencing-based Serology

The Emerging Pathogen Serology group sits within the Vaccine Development, Evaluation, and preparedness Centre (VDEC) Division of UKHSA Porton. We are a vibrant research group, undertaking diverse research and service testing projects for a range of emerging pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, Mpox, Ebola, Marburg, Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, West Nile Virus, and many others. In addition to emerging pathogens, we also undertake a number of research projects with the SIREN and PITCH studies on respiratory pathogens such as RSV and Influenza. More recently, our work has focussed on emerging pathogens to support and respond to the recent incidents such as Lassa Fever, Mpox, and H5N1.

Much of our work now focusses on immunological assay development, understanding immune responses (humoral/cellular), population-level serosurveillance, and informing vaccine and therapeutic design/policy. We are now recruiting a fixed term senior research scientist within the speciality of bioinformatics and sequencing based serology methods (PhIP-seq, MIPSA, PepSeq) to join our team in partnership with the Pathogen Characterisation group at UKHSA Porton for applying these methods to a range of serosurveillance, research, and discovery projects. This role would suit a candidate with diverse experience in bioinformatics and knowledge/prior experience in serology/immunology for infectious diseases.

An overview of responsibilities for this role include:

• Contribute to development and deployment of WGS pipelines to support analysis
• Support the identification and sharing of best bioinformatics practice.
• Accept responsibility for refactoring existing WGS software components
• Develop tested, validated and versioned software components for WGS analyses, incorporate into and validate new WGS pipeline versions
• To provide training and advice on use and interpretation of bioinformatic tools
• Analyse data for reports, posters and publications arising from the data
• Lead in identifying, evaluating and adapting new technologies and scientific techniques where appropriate and ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard.
• Perform a range of standard methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with project(s), to ensure project deliverables are met on time and within budget

Essential Criteria:

Essential

• PhD or equivalent years’ experience in bioinformatics, or similar
• Familiar with Linux/Unix; proficient on the commain line interface
• Knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing technologies and associated bioinformatic analytical approaches.
• Familiarity with the principles of PhIP-seq, MIPSA, PepSeq and other sequencing based serology methods
• Experience of developing, modifying, debugging code used for data analysis, preferably python
• Experience of applying diverse bioinformatics tools, as well as version control software (e.g. git) for software versioning and documentation
• Prior experience in writing publications, reports, conference presentations, and ethics and grant applications
• Regularly keep up to date with scientific literature where applicable
• Evidence of prior and ongoing publication record (including preprints)
• Prior experience of line management
• Developing collaborations

Desirable

• Demonstrable history of individual research projects with collaborators
• Demonstrable experience of designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining bioinformatics pipelines for analysis of high-throughput biological data.
• Experience of managing and analysing large volumes of data in a High-Performance Computing environment
• Prior experience in working within a team involved in public health incident and responses
• Experience of supporting the appropriation of new resources and methods to support laboratory research and day-to-day operation
• Experience assisting junior staff development through supervision and training

Further details can be found on the linked application website.

Informal enquiries can be made to Ashley Otter (Ashley.otter@ukhsa.gov.uk). Only applications submitted through the official job application page will be accepted.

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