At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop bioinformatics tools and manage data pipelines for groundbreaking plant science research.
- Company: Join the Ellison Institute of Technology, a leader in scientific innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced holiday, private medical insurance, and more.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert researchers.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact on global food production and climate change solutions.
- Qualifications: BSc/MSc in Bioinformatics or related field with experience in pipeline development.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Description
Join us at EIT
At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact.
We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:
- Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
- Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
- Climate Change & Managing CO₂
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference.
At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs.
Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.
Explore more at www. eit. org .
Welcome to the Plant Biology Institute
The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford.
The institute aims to develop impactful and commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.
The Plant Biology Institute will unite world-class researchers who are focused on expanding the frontiers of plant science.
Our research is focused on enhancing our ability to feed the planet while simultaneously improving the climate and ecosystem outcomes of food production.
By embedding cutting-edge plant science research within an organisation that is focused on solving global challenges at scale, we aim to accelerate the timeline from discovery to global impact.
• Areas of exploration include
- Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside.
- Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- Novel decarbonised plant-based production platforms for food and medicines.
- Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants.
Researchers will have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and plant growth facilities and have opportunities to collaborate with experts at the forefront of research on AI, automation, and generative biology across the EIT ecosystem.
They will also work with global leaders in market development, commercialisation, and impact creation.
The Plant Biology Institute has long-term substantial funding to support the unique scale and ambition of its vision.
Your Role
We are seeking a highly motivated
Bioinformatics Engineer to join the Bioinformatics platform team, which builds computational tools for plant biology in close collaboration with the phenotyping platform and research teams.
The successful candidate will work at the intersection of data, workflows, and compute capabilities, to accelerate plant science research.
By building the bioinformatics data and pipeline infrastructure, your work will directly shape how data moves from lab instrumentation through to analysis, ensuring researchers can access reliable, well-structured data and reproducible workflows to drive their science forward.
The role will require working with bioinformaticians, data analysts, and systems administrators to design, build, and maintain data and workflow orchestration solutions that meet the evolving needs of the institute.
The ideal candidate will have experience in leveraging cloud technologies to build and maintain scalable data and workflow solutions, along with a strong foundation in bioinformatics pipeline development and a collaborative approach to working across scientific and technical teams.
Your Responsibilities
- Develop and manage the bioinformatics data and pipeline infrastructure, including versioning, deployment processes, and compatibility across compute environments.
- Oversee the design and development of scalable nextflow pipelines for processing omics data, either through direct development or by guiding others.
- Design production-grade ETL processes to integrate data from various sources into the Bioinformatics platform.
- Define and implement processes for pipeline performance monitoring, troubleshooting, and resource optimisation.
- Document pipelines, infrastructure, and workflows to support reproducibility and knowledge-sharing across the team.
- Collaborate with bioinformaticians and systems administrators to align infrastructure and workflow solutions with research needs.
Requirements
Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience
- BSc/MSc in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related field and proven experience working in a compute platform environment.
- Proven experience developing and maintaining bioinformatics pipelines in a research or scientific environment.
- Strong programming and scripting skills, with experience in writing production-quality, well-documented code.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with biologists, data scientists, and infrastructure teams to deliver research outcomes.
- Experience handling and processing large, complex datasets (e. g. genomic, transcriptomic, or phenotyping data).
- Good understanding of bioinformatics file formats, tools, and databases (e. g. FASTQ, BAM/VCF, BLAST, reference genomes).
- Experience with workflow management systems (e. g. Nextflow, Snakemake) for building scalable, reproducible pipelines.
- Experience designing data integration/ ETL processes.
- Awareness of data and pipeline engineering standards and willing to advocate for the adoption of best practices.
- Understanding of relational and/or non-relational databases for storing and querying biological data.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Experience using Seqera (Nextflow Tower) for pipeline orchestration and monitoring.
- Experience with data modelling for biological or research datasets.
- Understanding of FAIR data principles and metadata standards.
- Experience with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
- Experience with Kubernetes or managed Kubernetes platforms.
- Experience in plant sciences or agriculture.
- Experience mentoring or guiding junior team members or collaborators.
Benefits
Our Benefits
- Salary dependent on experience + travel allowance + bonus
- Enhanced holiday + options to buy additional days
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Income Protection
- Private Medical Insurance
- Hospital Cash Plan
- Therapy Services
- Perk Box
- Electric Car Scheme
- Childcare benefit
Working Together – What It Involves
- You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).
Bioinformatics Engineer in Oxford employer: Ellison Institute of Technology
The Ellison Institute of Technology is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Oxford where innovation meets collaboration. As a Security Architect, you will not only contribute to cutting-edge research but also enjoy generous benefits such as enhanced holidays and a robust pension scheme, all while being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to addressing global challenges.
Contact Details:
Ellison Institute of Technology Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Bioinformatics Engineer in Oxford
✨Get Involved in Local Research Communities
Tap into local biotechnology meetups and research forums. These are great places to mingle with industry professionals, share your passion, and even discover unadvertised job openings. It's all about getting your face known in the field!
✨Leverage University Alumni Networks
If you're a recent grad, don’t underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network! Reach out to alumni working in biotechnology to gather tips about job openings at companies like Ellison Institute of Technology. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help out a fellow grad!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Curate a portfolio showcasing any research projects or internships you've completed in biotechnology. This tangible evidence of your skills can really impress employers when you chat with them at networking events or interviews. It's about making that killer first impression!
✨Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends
Biotech is a fast-paced field, so keeping yourself updated with the latest advancements is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to broaden your knowledge and meet potential employers. Plus, it’ll give you fantastic talking points for your interviews at places like Ellison Institute of Technology!
We think you need these skills to ace Bioinformatics Engineer in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Lab Skills:In the biotechnology field, it's super important to highlight your lab experience in your CV. Be sure to mention specific techniques or instruments you've mastered (think PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and any relevant projects you've worked on. This will show Ellison Institute of Technology that you have the hands-on skills they need.
Tailor Your Technical Skills:Make sure to emphasise your technical skills, especially those relevant to the biotechnology sector. Include any software tools or programming languages you've used, like R or Python for data analysis, which could be key for this role at Ellison Institute of Technology.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time role, your cover letter should reflect not only your passion for biotechnology but also your long-term career ambitions. Share why you're excited about the work that Ellison Institute of Technology does and how you envision contributing to their goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely invested in this opportunity.
Include Your Papers and Projects:If you've published any papers or contributed to significant projects, mention them! These documents can boost your application and provide tangible evidence of your expertise in the biotechnology field. Don’t forget to link to any relevant publications or project summaries—this can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ellison Institute of Technology
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
Since you're eyeing a full-time gig in biotechnology, make sure you're well-versed in the lab techniques relevant to the role. Be ready to talk about PCR, CRISPR, or any specific methods mentioned in the job description at Ellison Institute of Technology. You might even be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these processes.
✨Know Your Bioinformatics Tools
Get comfortable with bioinformatics tools that are commonly used in the industry, like BLAST or Bioconductor. These are key in biotechnology, and having hands-on experience or at least familiarity can set you apart. Prepare to discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, especially if they involved data analysis or genomic research.
✨Show Your Teamwork Skills
Biotech often involves collaboration across multiple disciplines. Be ready to share stories that highlight your teamwork and communication skills, especially in research projects. Think about working with different teams at university or any internships – this is where you can show how well you fit into Ellison Institute of Technology's culture.
✨Research Recent Biotech Innovations
Stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in biotechnology. Knowing what's happening in the field can help you engage in more meaningful discussions during your interview. Bring up recent articles or advancements that excite you, especially those related to the work being done at Ellison Institute of Technology. This shows your passion for the industry!
