Senior Bioinformatician , Career Opportunity in Uganda, Jobs in Uganda,

Jobs at MRC / UVRI Uganda - Uganda

Position Title: Senior Bioinformatician - MRC/UVRI Ugandan Medical Informatics Centre

Reports to: Unit Director Project (if any):

Unit Name: MRC / UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS

Organization:MRC / UVRI Uganda

Centre Division/Section: IT/ Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics Grade: 33 Points band A

Contract end-date: TBA

Job Purpose:

The main responsibility of this role will be to maintain complex databases for phenotype and genotype data and to design implement and maintain analysis pipelines to carry out analysis of human and pathogen genome sequencing data. The post holder will be required to collate, clean, and harmonise data from various sources, perform some analyses for QC purposes, as well as to help identify scientific priorities and contribute to some applied analyses. The post-holder will also, among other tasks, prepare and analyse large genetic and phenotypic datasets, as well as manage collaborative relationships within the frame of large international consortia. In addition another primary objective will be training and supporting international researchers in large-scale genome analyses.

The Senior Bioinformatician will be accountable for overseeing and enabling bioinformatics analyses undertaken by the UMIC and for maintaining and developing pipelines for the UMIC scientific programs.

Key Responsibilities:

·             Designs and implements high-quality, high-throughput computational pipelines for genome-analysis

·             Keeps up with the developments in technology and statistical genetics, and adapts to these rapidly in order to ensure the highest standard of data generation.

·             Manages large-scale whole-genome and whole-exome datasets

·             Helps in the development of new methods, or improving on existing methods to create solutions to problems, if needed.

·             Supports researchers and other bioinformaticians within the UMIC and internationally

·             Contributes to analyses of large-scale next generation sequencing datasets, genome-wide association analyses of common and rare variants and meta-analyses in a high-quality, time-sensitive environment.

·             Interprets, and contributes to the design of computational tools and statistical analysis plans for complex trait analysis.

·             Prepares high-quality data reports and drafts of manuscripts for publication

·             Presents work at international meetings.

·             Communicate with collaborators effectively.

·             Manages large-scale datasets of sequencing, clinical and other types of data, including cleansing and curation of data and facilitating deposition and access of data to and from the Medical Informatics Centre.

·             Coordinates and works with the international research community to facilitate data exchange, large-scale analytical efforts and exchange of expertise.

Financial Responsibilities:

None.

People Management Responsibilities:

Works closely with the Head of IT, Project Manager Bioinformatics and the different Heads of programme.

Supervises Bioinformaticians ( Number to be established)

Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements:

The job holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:

·             Code of conduct

·             Equality & Diversity Policy

·             Health & Safety Policy

·             Information technology policy and Data Protection Act

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between postholder and line manager

The above lists are not exhaustive and the job holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All staff are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC. Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

·             At least a Bsc in Computer science, Statistics, natural Sciences, Maths or have a degree in another subject coupled with extensive experience working with quantitative data.

·             Proven understanding and experience in the fields of genomics, data processing, high-through put data analysis, and genomic databases. Understanding of genome structure a must.

·             Experience providing advice, training and support to other researchers in the areas of bioinformatics and data analysis.

·             Firm grasp of univariate statistical analysis fundamentals necessary. Experience with multivariate statistics or statistical modelling a plus.

·             Candidates should have knowledge of leading NGS processing techniques for the identification of SNPs and structural variants.

·             Strong computational and data management skills and experience, particularly in data parsing, cleansing, data modelling, analysis, and database design and implementation.

·             Knowledge and experience working in a unix/linux environment.

·             Demonstrated programming skills in shell scripting (e.g. bash, tcsh), interpreted/scripting languages (e.g. Perl, Python, R)

·             Substantial experience working within international consortia and effectively facilitating research within this environment.

Skills & Abilities

·             Ability to review, synthesize, and present scientific data and methods.

·             Good written and verbal communication skills.

·             The ability to present methodologies and results succinctly

·             The ability to anticipate needs and problems while creating solutions.

·             The ability to work within a team, and to provide advice, training and support to other researchers.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

·             A PhD in computer science, computational biology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, or similar fields is desired although not strictly necessary.

·             Direct experience processing NGS data is a plus.

·             Candidates would ideally be familiar with the capabilities and limitations of NGS platforms and informatics pipelines, so that data can be appropriately integrated into analyses.

·             Experience with cluster computing is a plus.

·             Programming skills in compiled language(s) (e.g. Java, C, C++)

Competencies:

Core:

·             Personal Integrity

·             Emotional Resourcefulness

·             Ability to Learn

·             Forward Thinking

·             Reliability

·             Openness to Others

Job Specific (delete as appropriate):

·             Independence

·             Analytical Thinking

·             Proactivity

·             Results Orientation

·             Thoroughness

·             Concern for Excellence

·             Flexibility Towards Others

·             Service Orientation

·             Development Orientation

Additional information:

    The post-holder will take part in professional development exchanges with institutions in the UK and will be required to travel to and spend some time in the UK for training.

Mode of Application:

Applications including copies of academic qualifications, curriculum vitae and names plus

telephone contact details of three (3) referees should either be addressed to:

The Human Resources Manager

MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS

P. 0. Box 49, Entebbe.

Or to:

Email: recruitment@mrcuganda.org

Closing date for applications: 05:00pm, 23rd May 2014.