Research Officer or Senior Research Assistant – Bioinformatics
Position Ref: PV1406
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Make an important contribution to the health of children through medical research
Work with one of Australia’s most respected national and independent medical research
institutes
Gain valuable experience in the not-for-profit sector
Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is Australia’s first dedicated paediatric research
facility and one of the nation’s most highly regarded independent medical research centres. Our
research focuses on the areas of embryonic development and birth defects, cancer,
neuroscience, and gene therapy and we have a strong international reputation based on our
research outcomes. CMRI’s research programs are supported by state of the art facilities and a
committed research and support staff. Our achievements are made possible by a loyal network
of community supporters, highly engaged donors, a very successful Jeans for Genes® fundraising
campaign, and competitive research grants from national funding agencies and benevolent
foundations.
Applications are invited for either a suitably qualified Research Officer (RO) or a Senior Research
Assistant (SRA) in Bioinformatics for appointment to the Bioinformatics Unit. The level of
appointment will be determined by qualification, PhD for an RO or an Honours degree and work
experience for SRA. The position is to commence in 2014.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively with existing staff from the Bioinformatics Unit
in the bioinformatics analysis of high throughput proteomic and gene sequencing data. The
candidate will contribute to the development of bioinformatic capability, services, and
infrastructure at CMRI and the Westmead Research Hub, and will engage in a range of other
bioinformatics projects and initiatives, working closely with biomedical researchers, CMRI
Research Facilities, and ICT. Appointment is initially for 1 year, and continuing tenure is subject
to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
Applicants should:
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hold a PhD or equivalent (for RO appointment), or an Honours degree and relevant work
experience (for SRA appointment), in computational biology, bioinformatics, or a related
biomedical discipline;
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have proven experience in the analysis of high throughput proteomic and/or gene
sequencing data as well as the development of bioinformatics infrastructure to support
these analyses, including a high level of familiarity with a broad range of relevant open
source software packages, data analysis pipelines, and systems for large scale data
management;
be proficient in Perl, Python, or a related scripting language;
be proficient in the design, setup, and querying of databases for research data;
have high-level interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;
demonstrate problem-solving skills and independent thinking;
have strong, general bioinformatics skills and a solid basic understanding of molecular
biology, cell biology, and related disciplines;
demonstrate a willingness and ability to educate, train, and up-skill colleagues in basic
bioinformatics skills.
A competitive remuneration package will be offered in accordance with qualifications and
experience. Additional benefits include the provision of a Public Benevolent Institution salary
packaging scheme and participation in an employer-contributed superannuation fund.
Applications should include a cover letter (citing PV1406), curriculum vitae, and contact details
(phone/email) of three professional referees and be forwarded to recruitment@cmri.org.au .
Candidates must indicate if they are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or should provide
evidence of work permits. Closing date for applications is Monday 2 June 2014 at 9am.
Please direct enquiries regarding the position to the Head of the Bioinformatics Unit,
Associate Professor Jonathan Arthur (jarthur@cmri.org.au).