Senior Research Officer

We are seeking a researcher with experience in machine learning and bioinformatics of DNA sequencing data analysis to join a dynamic laboratory to work on the development of new methods for cancer diagnostics. This project is devoted to pancreatic cancer, which is often diagnosed at a late stage. Therefore, there is a great need for novel assays to facilitate the early detection of the disease. We aim to develop a low-cost, non-invasive assay that can be used for patient screening and monitoring. 

Traditional methods of cancer diagnostics are based on taking a piece of tissue (so-called tissue biopsies). We work on liquid biopsies, which is a less invasive method for cancer detection, based on the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from body fluids (e.g. blood plasma, urine). Liquid biopsies are increasingly used in the clinic, but the challenge of making them applicable to early cancer detection remains. The main issue is that in early stages of cancer, the majority of cfDNA in body fluids is not from cancer cells. Most current methods require for the analysis a significant fraction of cfDNA from tumour cells. Therefore, they are less suitable for early cancer detection when this fraction is very small – this is the problem that we aim to overcome in this project.

Duties of the Role

In this job role you will be developing scripts in R and Python, performing some bash programming on the Linux computer cluster, dealing with command-line bioinformatics software and collaborating with our computational and wet lab students, including some elements of co-supervision. You will be integrated in our wide network of national and international collaborations, providing you with good opportunities for personal development.

The School of Life Sciences (University of Essex) provides access to a high-performance computer cluster and extensive molecular biology facilities.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.

Skills and qualifications required

The successful candidate will hold a relevant doctoral level degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Sciences, Machine Learning or related subjects, or equivalent research or industry experience. 

You will have the ability and willingness to engage in knowledge exchange and outreach activities. You will complement and enhance the research project/department/school’s education and research strengths and areas of planned development.

Experience of bioinformatics analysis of next generation sequencing data, and/or experience in machine learning for biomedical research, along with expertise in Python programming and R programming are essential to this post.

As part of the process and to be successful you will be required to demonstrate how you your research has been impactful within and beyond the academic sphere, recognising the importance of this and the effect it will have on the University.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

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