JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Research Associate (Bioinformatician)
Division:
National Heart and Lung Institute
Section:
Heart Science
Job Family / Level:
Academic and Research, Level B
Salary:
£32,750 per annum
Work closely with:
Colleagues within the National Heart and Lung Institute,
MRC Clinical Sciences Centre (CSC), and British Heart
Foundation Centre of Research Excellence
Responsible to:
Professor Michael Schneider
Contract:
Full-time and fixed-term until 31 January 2015
Location:
Hammersmith Campus
Summary of the Post
As an experienced Bioinformatician in this Research Associate position, you will work
on a project funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Professor Michael
Schneider’s Cardiac Myogenesis, Death and Regeneration Group. The aim of the
project is to use state-of-the-art genome technologies for single-cell RT-PCR profiling to
investigate the dormant cardiac stem cells found in adult heart and their clonal
derivatives.
The project will involve analysis of gene expression in purified single cells, isolated by
preparative flow sorting, and in cloned cells, propagated by robotic cell culture, building
on existing tools to improve the visualization and interpretation of single cell expression
files. These data will be integrated with RNA-Seq and epigenetic studies done in
collaboration with Professor Ana Pombo (Max Delbruck Centre and Berlin Institute for
Medical Systems Biology) and Professor Tim Aitman (MRC CSC).
Background Information
Professor Schneider's research concerns the problem of cardiac muscle cell number, in
its basic and applied respects. The ability of adult mammals' heart tissue to undergo
self-repair is meagre by comparison to that of newts, certain fish, and newborn mice,
thwarting functional recovery from the muscle cell death in heart attacks and other
human heart disorders.
Over the past decade, approaches to rescue cardiac muscle cell number have made
their way from the laboratory bench to clinical trials using stem cells from adult hearts.
However, characterizing the dormant adult cardiac progenitors is still in its infancy,
despite a number of reported markers. Professor Schneider has recently identified two
genes (a cell surface receptor and a non-muscle transcription factor) whose presence
pinpoints exactly the non-muscle cells within the heart that are highly clonogenic and
express a cluster of genes for heart muscle creation.
You will work closely with a team of post-doctoral researchers and post-graduate
students. Current experiments include efforts to (1) investigate the adult cardiac stem
cells’ activation after injury or after grafting to the injured heart; (2) activate the cardiac
phenotype in the adult cardiac stem cells artificially, with growth factors, small
molecules, and biomechanical signals; (3) refine the existing method for purifying the
cardiac stem cells and apply it to human heart tissue.
Key Responsibilities
Central activities of the post will be to analyse gene expression data from cardiac stem
cells and comparison cell types, with emphasis on single-cell QRT-PCR using the
Fluidigm Biomark HD system and 48 x 48 or 96 x 96 Dynamic Arrays.
The projects to be carried out are in a highly competitive field and will demand a high
degree of commitment.
 To conduct and plan own scientific work with appropriate supervision and coordination with other Group members as required
 To collaborate with affiliated scientists of the BHF Centre and other researchers
within Imperial College and elsewhere in London or abroad, as appropriate
 To maintain a highly organised and accurate record of experimental work
 To conduct data analysis, ensuring the validity and reliability of data at all times
 To take an active part in the Group’s research meetings, internal seminars and
academic activities of the BHF Centre
 To publish in high quality journals and to present data at national and international
meetings
 To keep up-to-date with scientific advances in the field, including continuing
professional development
 Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and
research assistants as required
 To undertake appropriate administrative tasks
 To undertake any necessary training and/or development
 Willingness to work out of normal working hours (including weekends) if the
requirements of the project demand
 Any other duties which may arise commensurate with the grade of the post as
directed by the Head of group, as well as the Head of Division/Department/Section
Representative publications
Oh H, Bradfute SB, Gallardo TD, Nakamura T, Gaussin V, Mishina Y, Pocius J,
Michael LH, Behringer RR, Garry DJ, Entman ML, Schneider MD (2003). Cardiac
progenitor cells from adult myocardium: Homing, differentiation, and fusion after
infarction. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:12313-12318.
Sano M, Izumi Y, Helenius K, Asakura M, Rossi DJ, Xie M, Taffet G, Hu L, Pautler RG,
Wilson CR, Boudina S, Abel ED, Taegtmeyer H, Scaglia F, Graham BH, Kralli A,
Shimizu N, Tanaka H, Makela TP, Schneider MD. (2007) Ménage-à-trois 1 is critical for
the transcriptional function of PPAR coactivator-1. Cell Metabolism 5:129-42
Liu Y, Asakura M, Inoue H, Nakamura T, Sano M, Chen M, Schwartz RJ, Schneider
MD. (2007) Sox17 is essential for the specification of cardiac mesoderm in embryonic
stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:3859-3864
Lin S-C, Dollé P, Ryckebusch L, Noseda M, Zaffran S, Schneider MD, Niederreither K.
(2010) Endogenous retinoic acid regulates cardiac progenitor differentiation. Proc Natl
Acad Sci USA 107:9234-9
Mercola M, Ruiz-Lozano P, Schneider MD. (2011) Cardiac muscle regeneration:
Lessons from development. Genes Dev 25: 299-309
To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, including the
key policies and procedures on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data
Protection, Equal Opportunities, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety,
Imperial Expectations (for new leaders, managers and supervisors), Information
Technology, Private Engagements and Register of Interests, and Smoking.
To undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set
out on the College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities
page (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/organisationandarrangements).
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to
undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key
responsibilities.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in
its Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy
and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications:
Essential
 PhD in Bioinformatics or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research
experience
 Strong publication track record in bioinformatics, molecular biology or molecular
genetics
 Postgraduate experience in mining of genome databases, genome data
analysis and programming
Desirable

Background, and preferably some laboratory experience, in biological sciences
Experience and Knowledge:
Essential
 Practical expertise in data analysis and statistical procedures to support
experimental design and data interpretation
 Thorough familiarity with R/Conductor
 Previous experience in adhering to or implementing of good laboratory practice
in a research laboratory environment, either in academia or industry
 Background knowledge of molecular biology and genetics
Desirable
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Experience with the analysis of complex gene expression datasets
Knowledge of algorithms and tools for the analysis of gene expression data
Knowledge of general wet-lab techniques in molecular biology or genetics
Skills and Abilities:
Essential
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Ability to critically review project progress, and to provide intellectual input into
the continued development of research
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with particular emphasis on
writing succinctly for publication and on effective communication with scientific
collaborators
Ability to develop and apply new concepts
Proven organisational skills and ability to plan ahead, set priorities and work to
deadlines
Ability and willingness to perform routine and non-routine tasks effectively and
within deadlines
Ability and willingness to adapt to changing timetables or work patterns as may
be dictated by changing circumstances
Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Other Requirements:
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Willingness to work unsociable hours as work demands from time to time
Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative
Discipline and regard for confidentiality and security at all times
Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
Willingness to travel both within the United Kingdom and abroad to conduct
research and attend conferences