Bioinformatician - Pathogen

Bioinformatician - Pathogen

Oxford Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join us as a Bioinformatician to develop and scale bioinformatics workflows for pathogen genomics.
  • Company: The Ellison Institute of Technology tackles global challenges through innovative science and technology solutions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, enhanced holiday pay, private medical insurance, and more perks.
  • Why this job: Make a real-world impact in public health while collaborating with top scientists in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: PhD in Bioinformatics or related field, with hands-on experience in NGS data analysis and coding skills.
  • Other info: Must be eligible to work in the UK and willing to commute to Oxford.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) tackles humanity\’s greatest challenges by turning science and technology into impactful global solutions. Focused on areas like health, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate change, clean energy, and robotics in an era of artificial intelligence. EIT blends groundbreaking research with practical applications to deliver lasting results.

A cornerstone of EIT mission is its upcoming 300,000-square-foot research facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This cutting-edge campus will feature advanced labs, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative spaces to strengthen its partnership with the University of Oxford. It will also host the Ellison Scholars, driving innovation for societal benefit.

The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT\’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle\’s cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system. This initiative aims to improve diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatments by profiling antimicrobial resistance. The goal is to deliver certified diagnostic tools for widespread use in labs, hospitals, and public health.

EIT fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity\’s enduring challenges.

The Pathogen program is looking for a Bioinformatician to work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with senior scientists to develop, validate, and scale bioinformatics workflows that turn raw sequencing data into actionable insights. This is an ideal role for someone early in their career who is eager to hone their skills in pathogen genomics, learn best‑practice pipeline engineering, and see their code translate into real‑world clinical and public‑health impact.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Contribute tobuilding, testing, and maintainingnext-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis pipelines (Nextflow, Docker, Bash/Python/R), ensuring reproducibility and performance.
  • Contribute todata curationfrom public repositories (ENA, GenBank, GISAID) and internal studies.
  • Performquality control, assembly, and downstream analyses(taxonomic classification, AMR calling, variant/strain typing) under guidance from senior team members.
  • Document pipeline steps and results clearly; present findings to multidisciplinary colleagues.
  • Stay current with advances in infectious disease genomics and suggest incremental improvements to existing workflows.
  • Champion EIT\’s collaborative culture by sharing knowledge and supporting teammates.

Requirements

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Doctorate-level expertise (PhD or equivalent) in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Microbiology, Genetic Epidemiology, Genomics or a related field, combined with hands-on bioinformatics or computational biology experience.
  • Hands-on experience analysing NGS data.
  • Proficiency inPython and Bash; familiarity with R is a plus.
  • Exposure to workflow managers (e.g.,Nextflowor Snakemake) and containerisation (Docker/Singularity).
  • Fundamental understanding of infectious diseases and microbial genomics.
  • Clear communicator, curious learner, and team oriented problem solver.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g. OCI, AWS, GCP) or HPC environments (e.g. Slurm).
  • Familiarity with both long and shortread technologies (e.g. ONT, Illumina).
  • Basic knowledge of metagenomics, antimicrobial resistance analytics or public health monitoring.
  • Interest in data visualisation or machine learning methods for genomics.

Benefits

We offer the following salary and benefits:

  • Salary: Competitive salary on offer
  • Enhanced holiday pay
  • Pension
  • Life Assurance
  • Income Protection
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Hospital Cash Plan
  • Therapy Services
  • Perk Box
  • Electrical Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

  • You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary
  • You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford
  • During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme

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Bioinformatician - Pathogen employer: Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises innovation and inclusivity. Located at the Oxford Science Park, EIT provides employees with access to state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities for professional growth in cutting-edge research areas such as pathogen genomics. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, EIT offers competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
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Contact Detail:

Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Bioinformatician - Pathogen

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest advancements in pathogen genomics and bioinformatics. This will not only help you understand the role better but also allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews, showcasing your genuine interest in the field.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the bioinformatics community, especially those working in pathogen research. Attend relevant conferences or webinars, and connect with them on platforms like LinkedIn to gain insights and potentially get referrals for the position.

✨Tip Number 3

Brush up on your coding skills, particularly in Python and Bash, as well as your knowledge of workflow managers like Nextflow. Consider contributing to open-source projects or creating your own to demonstrate your practical experience and problem-solving abilities.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss how you can contribute to EIT's collaborative culture. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully worked in teams, shared knowledge, or supported colleagues, as this aligns with their values and mission.

We think you need these skills to ace Bioinformatician - Pathogen

Bioinformatics Expertise
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Analysis
Python Programming
Bash Scripting
Data Curation
Workflow Management (Nextflow, Snakemake)
Containerisation (Docker, Singularity)
Microbial Genomics Knowledge
Quality Control and Data Assembly
Taxonomic Classification
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Analytics
Variant/Strain Typing
Clear Communication Skills
Team Collaboration
Curiosity and Continuous Learning

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, and any hands-on work with NGS data. Emphasise your proficiency in Python and Bash, as well as any familiarity with workflow managers like Nextflow.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the mission of the Ellison Institute of Technology. Discuss how your skills align with their needs, particularly in developing bioinformatics workflows and your interest in pathogen genomics.

Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have worked on specific projects related to infectious disease genomics or microbial genomics, be sure to include these in your application. Detail your contributions and the impact of your work, especially if it involved data analysis or pipeline engineering.

Highlight Collaborative Experience: EIT values collaboration, so mention any experiences where you worked in multidisciplinary teams. Discuss how you shared knowledge and supported teammates, as this aligns with their culture of teamwork and innovation.

How to prepare for a job interview at Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford

✨Showcase Your Technical Skills

Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with NGS data analysis and your proficiency in Python and Bash. Highlight any projects where you've used these skills, especially in relation to bioinformatics workflows.

✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit

EIT values a collaborative culture, so be ready to share examples of how you've worked effectively in teams. Discuss how you support teammates and contribute to a positive working environment.

✨Stay Current with Industry Trends

Familiarise yourself with the latest advances in infectious disease genomics and be prepared to discuss them. Showing that you're proactive about learning can set you apart from other candidates.

✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities, particularly in bioinformatics. Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous roles or studies and how you overcame them, especially in relation to pipeline engineering.

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