Bioinformatician

Level A - Salary £27,400 - £30,450 per annum 
Level B - Salary £31,300 - £39,920 per annum

Applications are invited for a skilled and motivated Bioinformatician with web development experience to join VectorBase (http://www.vectorbase.org) and help build infrastructure for the forthcoming population genomics data explosion. VectorBase is an international collaboration of academic groups that provides web-based genomic resources to researchers of arthropod vectors of human pathogens. We are currently responsible for five fully annotated genomes (three mosquitoes, tick and body louse), providing genome search and browse capability, as well as comparative genomics, genomic variations and gene expression data.

The current phase of development at Imperial College (in close collaboration with colleagues in Crete) involves consolidating existing population biology datasets and providing a resource which can scale to handle thousands of high-throughput genotyped samples from field collections and laboratory experiments. The web interface will then be enhanced to enable browsing of genotypic and phenotypic data side by side. This work will be challenging, but also rewarding, since the new resource will allow meta-analysis of population data and will hopefully provide new insights into dynamic mosquito (and other vector) populations and their role in disease transmission.

The successful candidate is expected to work closely with vector biologists at Imperial College and with our collaborators around the world to maintain and extend the functional genomics and population biology aspects of VectorBase including the databases, data processing pipelines and web applications. Experience with biological databases and web development is essential, and familiarity with vector biology and functional or population genomics being highly advantageous.

To be appointed at Level A, the successful candidate will have an MSc degree in either a biological or a computational science, with qualifications or work experience in the other or equivalent level of professional qualifications and experience. You must have knowledge and experience of SQL, Perl, Javascript and Bioinformatics web development. Knowledge and experience in EnsEMBL and/or BioMart, population genetics / genomic variation, next-gen sequencing / high throughput genotyping, Ruby, High performance / cluster computing, software development as part of a collaborative project and Ontologies and/or semantic web technologies would be advantageous.

To be appointed at Level B, the successful candidate will have a PhD in either a biological or a computational science, with qualifications or work experience in the other or equivalent level of professional qualifications and experience. In addition to the criteria listed for Level A, you must also have experience of Java programming, genomic databases and API/ORM development.

The position is available until August 2014 subject to the annual renewal of the grant.

For informal enquiries please contact either Dr Bob MacCallum r.maccallum@imperial.ac.uk or Professor George Christophides g.christophides@imperial.ac.uk

Our preferred method of application is online via our website http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/employment (please select 'Job Search' then enter the job title vacancy reference number, including spaces - NS 2012 077 JT into 'Keywords'). Please complete and upload the application form as directed.

Alternatively, if you are unable to apply online, please contact Coralie Simmons, emailc.simmons@imperial.ac.uk to request an application form.

Closing date: 11 April 2012