BACKGROUND

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organisations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is located in Heidelberg (Germany), with additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy).

We are seeking a Bioinformatician to join the group of Maja Köhn at EMBL. The group develops and applies tools to study phosphatases. Phosphatases are crucial enzymes in health and disease, but the knowledge of their biological roles is still limited. To support the research on phosphatase-kinase-substrate networks we developed the human dephosphorylation database, DEPOD (http://www.depod.org), which is a manually curated public database providing human active phosphatases, their protein and non-protein substrates, dephosphorylation sites, pathway involvements, and external links to kinases and small molecule modulators.

We are now seeking to expand this database by integrating information with respect to phosphatase interacting proteins, and incorporate the class of inactive ("pseudo") phosphatases. The second step will be to create a browsable network of phosphatases, their substrates and interacting proteins. The new data will also be analysed regarding the contribution of interacting proteins to substrate specificity and regulation of phosphatases (see also Li et al., Sci. Signal. 2013, 6:rs10).

REQUIREMENTS

Qualified candidates will have (or be about to obtain) a Ph.D. degree. The candidate is expected to have experience in web and database development with HTML, JavaScript, PHP and MySQL, and to be competent in coding in one or more scripting languages in a LINUX/UNIX-based context. Ideally the candidate will be familiar with popular bioinformatics databases including protein, gene and protein-protein interaction databases, with protein-protein interaction networks analysis using tools like Cytoscape, and with protein sequence analysis such as sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Prior experience with data mining, protein structure modeling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is a further advantage. The ability to work in a team, good organisational and communication skills in English as well as initiative, flexibility and good learning ability are also desired.

TERMS

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply online through http://www.embl.org/jobs

DEADLINE

13 October 2013