Bioinformatics Scientist

Biosurv International is a small pathogen surveillance NGO working globally to solve problems and advance infectious disease research and control. We are based at Porton Science Park, near Salisbury, and partner with laboratories across Africa and Asia to support infectious disease detection, surveillance and response using genomic technologies, to improve public health.

As a Bioinformatics Scientist at Biosurv International, you will play a crucial role in our project focused on the epidemiology and evolution of poliovirus, including analysis of genomic data from acute flaccid paralysis cases in sub-Saharan Africa. You will also work on projects analysing genomic data from viral samples sequenced by our partners in SE Asia. You will work closely with our partnering labs, providing training workshops and helping to troubleshoot any issues with in-country bioinformatic pipelines.

This is a fixed-term position until 30 June 2026 (possible extension dependent on funding) with a starting salary of £28-45k pa, dependent on experience. International travel and flexible work hours are integral to the role and international travel of 1-2 weeks, 2-4 times per year will likely be required.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Provide QC/technical support to assess sequencing data quality reported by labs and troubleshoot genomic data analysis issues, both remotely and in-person.
• Support training in sequencing methods and data analysis in laboratories in Africa and Asia.
• Create and maintain Nextstrain builds to facilitate data sharing and visualization.
• Develop and optimize scripts and GUI apps to streamline data analysis workflows, enhancing efficiency and reproducibility in our processes.
• Process, analyse, and interpret viral Nanopore sequencing data from partnering labs to derive meaningful insights.
• Embrace a hands-on approach, collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues to contribute to various projects and tasks as needed.
• Take on significant responsibility early on, wear multiple hats, and be comfortable self-teaching new skills, contributing directly to the success of our startup and the impact of our research.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., bioinformatics, biology, molecular biology, genomics, computational biology, computer science, or a related discipline).
• Knowledge of bioinformatic resources and tools to analyse and interpret sequencing data.
• Experience working in the Linux environment and shell scripting.
• Proficiency in scripting languages for data analysis and workflow automation, workflow management, and version control (e.g. python, rust, nextflow, snakemake, Git, etc.).
• Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision with excellent self-learning skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent written communication skills for the development of protocols and preparation of publications.
• Strong problem solving skills, endless patience, and ability to troubleshoot technical issues independently.
• Willingness to travel internationally for 1-2 weeks at a time, 2-4 times a year, to provide training workshops and collaborate with partners.
• Willingness to work flexibly to communicate with and effectively engage partnering labs and collaborators across time zones.

Desirable:

• Significant prior experience in a related field is preferred.
• Advanced degrees like Masters or PhD are a plus.
• Experience working in a low or lower middle income country.
• Familiarity with Nextstrain or similar tools for pathogen genomic analysis.
• Experience in wet lab methods for molecular biology or sequencing would be an asset.
• Fluency in French.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit your CV, two references, and a personal statement outlining how your experience and skills match the Essential and Desirable criteria noted above, to admin@biosurvinternational.org.

If you are passionate about using bioinformatics to make a difference in global health and are excited to be a part of a dynamic startup environment, we encourage you to apply and join us on our mission to combat infectious diseases.