[BiO BB] JOBS: 3 bioinformatics/IT posts in UK

[Dawn Field]

Jobs Available at the Environmental Genomics Thematic Programme Data Centre at CEH Oxford

Bioinformatics/Computing Positions Open (3): 
Lead Bioinformatician, Data Manager, Linux Developer/System Administrator

Location: 
Oxford Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxford England, UK

Background: 
The ability to scale up from the study of a few genes to complete genomes using developing genomic technologies provides an unprecedented opportunity to ask questions about the molecular mechanisms organisms use to adapt and survive.  The recently established Environmental Genomics programme is funded by the NERC at £16.5M over c. 5 years.  The mission of this thematic programme is to use existing & emerging genomic knowledge & technology to gain a better understanding of ecosystem structure & function.  This mission will be implemented through projects that address fundamental ecological and evolutionary questions in environmentally important organisms ranging from microbes to vertebrates.  As part of the fulfilment of its mission, the Programme is investing in a proactive Data Management Initiative.  This Initiative will include the creation of a small, specialised Data Centre at CEH Oxford.  

Description of Posts
We invite applications for three new bioinformatics/computing posts within the Centre. The Centre must collect all data generated by this Thematic Programme and make it available to the research community in an organised and added-value format. The primary focus of the Centre's support and development activities will be on implementing commercial (Silicon Genetics) and open source software to allow the appropriate annotation, interpretation, archiving and mining of microarray and EST data. The Centre is also committed to developing mechanisms for merging evolutionary and ecological meta-data with genomic data. A key part of this informatic strategy will be the development of a bioinformatics-based Linux Distribution that delivers Centre supported software solutions directly to EG funded research groups. The CEH Oxford Centre team will work actively with UK bioinformatics software developers and with EG researchers to implement, create and integrate bioinformatics solutions that will allow the EG community to collect, mine, and exploit its data holdings.

Lead Bioinformatician (Ref: CEHOX64)
This individual will have an outstanding background in bioinformatics and will co-ordinate the activities of the Centre team, liase most heavily with EG funded researchers, and provide expert consultation on the bioinformatic analysis of microarray and EST sequence data. This individual must be highly skilled in the generation/analysis of microarray data, and will hopefully have extensive experience with the GeneSpring/GeNet/Script Editor software from Silicon Genetics (although this is not absolutely essential). Experience with the maxD transcriptomics software suite and with advanced EST analysis also highly desirable.

Data Manager (Ref: CEHOX65)
This individual will be a highly skilled database programmer who will have primary responsibility for managing all data holdings and enforcing the programme's meta-data policies. This individual will also have the responsibility of working towards integration of the Centre's Holdings with other NERC and UK databases. Expert knowledge of SQL and experience with the creation, updating, and customisation of Oracle, MySQL, or Postgres databases essential.

Linux Developer and System Administrator (Ref: CEHOX66)
This individual will possess expert knowledge of Linux (RedHat) and Linux system administration in a multi-user environment, and will be the primary developer of our Bioinformatics-based Linux distribution. This individual should be familiar with the installation and cloning of Linux machines (using SystemImager) and with the development and management of computing clusters. 

The successful candidates are expected to interact with a large number of external researchers pursuing a wide variety of genomics projects. This team will provide expert scientific and technical consultation to programme members and produce tangibles including open-source informatic pipelines, a community-building web site, and material for a major documentation project and training initiative. All post-holders must be comfortable in a Linux-based computing environment, should have command of at least one programming language (ideally Perl), and will be expected to participate in the development of the Centre's www, programming, and bioinformatics research environments. The Centre Team will be supported by a full time technical administrator.

Formal Qualifications
The Lead Bioinformatician should have a Ph.D. and relevant research experience in microarray analysis, ideally with a background in evolution and/or ecology. Candidates for the Data Manager and Linux Developer/System Administrator positions should possess either an advanced degree in bioinformatics, computer science, the biological sciences, statistics and/or 2-5 years relevant work experience either in a research lab or in an IT department. Exceptional candidates with very strong IT backgrounds without previous experience in bioinformatics will be considered for these two posts. All team members must possess excellent communications skills and must be willing to travel within the UK as part of the training initiative. Experience with Beowulf cluster computing or GRID highly desirable. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to think and work both independently and as part of a tightly integrated team.

Posts will initially be funded for 2 years with the possibility of extension for up to 5 years. For more information about this Thematic Programme please refer to http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/thematics/envgen/. For more information about the Centre or the available posts please contact Dr. Dawn Field, Director of the Data Centre, at dfield at ceh.ac.uk or visit the Centre's web site at http://envgen.nox.ac.uk. For an application form please contact Mrs Heather Morris at CEH Oxford on (44) 01865 281630 or by email at HDM at ceh.ac.uk. With the application form you will also receive a more detailed job description and overview of the Data Centre. Please submit a cv and the names of two references with your application.

Closing Date: Applications should be submitted by 28 September, 2002. Review of applications will continue until all positions are filled.