IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title
Computational Biologist/Bioinformatician (Population
Genetics)
Department
Life Sciences
Faculty
Natural Sciences
Job Family/Level
Academic and Research, Level B
Salary range
£32,100 - £40,720 per annum
Reporting To
Professor George Christophides
Working Closely With
Dr Bob MacCallum and other researchers within the
Group
Location
South Kensington Campus
Working Hours
Not normally less than 35 hours per week
Length of Appointment
Fixed term position for 12 months in the first instance,
with a possibility of extension subject to funding
Summary of Post
A position is available in the laboratory of Vector Immunogenomics headed by
Professor George K. Christophides for computational analysis and processing of
genome-wide population genetics data and their deposition into VectorBase, a
population biology and genomics database resource. VectorBase is an international
consortium of researchers providing a community web-based genomics resource for
vector species, including mosquitoes, ticks, and tsetse fly, among others.
You will work on large-scale projects with colleagues associated with several
European and International projects, including VectorBase, VecNet, InfraVec,
MalariaGen and Transmalariabloc. Part of the role will be to assist community
members in the deposition of data with VectorBase and repositories such as EBI's
BioSamples database. There will also be opportunities to develop tools for metaanalysis and visualization of large-scale data.
Main Duties
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To process re-sequencing data for the analysis of genomic variation
To assist members of the laboratory and community in the preparation and
submission of population data
To prioritise tasks within agreed work schedule
To contribute to the development of techniques, models and methods, for the
collection, analysis and visualisation of population genetics data
To ensure the security, validity and reliability of data and servers at all times
To maintain accurate and complete records of all work and document
Standard Operating Procedures where appropriate
To assist in the writing of regular internal reports
To attend relevant meetings, workshops and conferences as necessary
Other Duties
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To process microarray expression data through an established and
documented pipeline
To assist members of the laboratory and community in the preparation and
submission of expression data
To process and analyse high-throughput sequencing data for expression
levels and novel gene discovery
To assist with website maintenance tasks (e.g. building search indices,
updating news items, uploading download files)
To prepare material for presentation in oral and poster formats
To assist with the presentation of findings to colleagues and at conferences
To assist in the drafting of publications for submission to refereed journals
To advise and assist other staff and students within limited area of expertise.
To undertake appropriate administration tasks
To undertake limited teaching duties as required by the Department
To develop contacts and research collaborations within the College and the
wider community
To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College
To comply with relevant College policies, including Financial Regulations,
Equal Opportunities Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy, Health and
Safety Policy, Information Systems Security Policy and Intellectual Property
Rights and Register of Interests Policies
To undertake any necessary training and/or development
To maintain safe workplace practice and procedures in accordance with the
requirements of Health and Safety legislation;
To maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant statutory Health and Safety
legislation and recommendations and attend safety training as required.
Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by line
manager / supervisor
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.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title
Computational Biologist/Bioinformatician (Population
Genetics)
Department
Department of Life Sciences
Qualifications
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PhD, or in the process of obtaining a PhD, in a relevant area of Bioinformatics
or Computational Population Genetics
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
 Good working knowledge of high-throughput sequencing-based workflows for
at least one of the following:
o characterising variants in populations and/or individuals
o determining transcript expression levels
o genomic sequencing and assembly
 Knowledge of field-based population biology and/or population genetics
 Familiar with the handling and analysis of next generation sequencing data,
ideally as applied to monitoring genomic variation and association studies.
 Knowledge and experience of scripting (Perl or Python, shell and R) for
bioinformatics analysis and associated Unix/Linux command-line tasks
Desirable
 Knowledge of insect biology and/or field studies
 Experience with high performance computing (e.g. cluster job submission)
 Knowledge of ontologies
 Knowledge of geographic information systems
 Experience with collaborative tools such as ticket/issue management systems
and version control
 Knowledge of database and web application programming
Skills and Abilities
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Ability to write documented, re-usable and extendable computer code and
scripts
Ability to document and reproduce workflows
Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature
Ability to develop and apply new concepts
Creative approach to problem-solving
Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range
of people
Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and
succinctly for publication
Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision
Ability to prioritise own work in response to deadlines
General computer skills, including word-processing, spreadsheets, Internet
Ability to communicate complex information clearly
Ability to apply relevant models, techniques and methods and develop new
ones
Ability to assess resource requirements and deploy them effectively
Personal Attributes
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Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative
Commitment to meeting deadlines
Commitment to maintaining and enhancing facilities and training others in
their use
Flexible attitude towards work
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/workshops and other meetings