Faculty Position in Bioinformatics

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Department of Biological Sciences

School: School of Science

Contract Type: Fixed-term, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended

ABOUT XJTLU

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.

For detailed information about the university, please visit the university website: www.xjtlu.edu.cn.

ABOUT DEPARTMENT 

The department focuses on molecular bioscience and has recruited faculty from globally distinguished institutions working in this discipline. Although relatively young, the Department has already established a solid reputation, as indicated by the growing number of grant awards to its staff (e.g. from the National Natural Science Foundation of China) and national and international research collaborations (e.g. with Novartis and Unilever plc). It has state-of-the-art instrumentation housed in custom-built labs, and with excellent technical support. Current research areas include cancer biology, structural biology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, cell signaling, genomics, molecular microbiology, neuroscience, proteomics, virology, and AI for biomedicine.  The department is dedicated to providing an international environment for both teaching and research, with around half of academic staff born out of mainland China. 

The Department currently offers undergraduate, master and PhD degree programmes in both biological sciences and bioinformatics. 

Staff also benefit from the fact that Suzhou is a ‘hot-spot’ for biotechnology and biomedical science. Cold Spring Harbor Asia (http://www.csh-asia.org/index.html) is located within walking distance and there are over 1000 biotechnology companies in BioBay (http://en.biobay.com.cn/main/index.asp) providing ample industry collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities. 

As a state-level economic and technical development zone (ETDZ), Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) boasted its No.1 ranking among 218 zones of its kind in China for five consecutive years (2016-2020) by the Ministry of Commerce based on the zone’s comprehensive development level. The broader Suzhou area encompasses the spirit of both old and new in China, with the historic old town’s canals, UNESCO World Heritage Site gardens, and the I.M Pei-designed Suzhou Museum attracting millions of tourists annually. SIP offers an excellent quality of life. The nearby Jinji Lake provides attractive views, by day and by night, and there are a variety of shopping facilities, international and local restaurants, entertainment hubs and a great nightlife.  Suzhou became the world's largest industrial city in 2021, with the gross industrial output value reaching the milestone of 4 trillion RMB. 

For more information: https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/academic-departments/biological-sciences/ 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• To teach undergraduate and graduate students
• To maintain active research and obtain research funding 
• To carry out various administrative duties related to university teaching and research (e.g. Research Officer, Lab Safety Officer, and Examination Officer)
• To supervise graduate students and support teaching and research staff
• To establish an innovative and well-funded research group that is open to interdisciplinary collaboration. 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Effective communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English
• Problem-solving/creativity 
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Professionalism and work ethic
• Interpersonal abilities to manage a research team
• Positive attitude and energy
• Diversity / Sensitivity

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

Candidates have strong background in evolution or genetics, preferably related to human health, such as cancer genetics, tutor evolution, virus evolution, genetic disorders, GWAS analysis, etc., as indicated by high impact publications.

The successful applicant will have a PhD degree in biological sciences or a related discipline and should demonstrate appropriate teaching experience/potentials and evidence of the ability to produce high quality research publications. 

Candidates for the position of Associate Professor or above should also have a strong track record in teaching and academic supervision, as well as an international research profile in their fields and a successful record of research funding.

Teaching fellows generally focus on providing high-quality university teaching only, and there are no (or minimal) expectations on their research performance.

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China. 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

1. Clear career development path with annual review.
2. Professional development trainings are provided. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances as

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Kids’ education allowance
• Relocation allowance

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy) 

3. Paid holidays:

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental Leave 

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website. Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

• A cover letter
• A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact Details for Three References

For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email acting Head of Department, Dr. Jia Meng, Jia.Meng@xjtlu.edu.cn

Informal enquiries may be addressed to HR at Zhi.Yang@xjtlu.edu.cn

Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.