At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain analytical tools for global biodata resources.
- Company: Join the Global Biodata Coalition, a leader in biomedical research.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and generous leave.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global health and biodiversity.
- Qualifications: Strong Python skills and experience with data analysis required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 44000 £ per year.
The Global Biodata Coalition (GBC) brings together leading international funders in biomedical and life sciences research to secure the long-term sustainability of the world’s most essential biodata resources. Hosted by EMBL-EBI and supported by a new five-year European Commission grant and contributions from GBC Member funding organisations, GBC operates at the intersection of science, policy, and global collaboration. A key element of GBC’s Scientific Programme is to discover and describe globally distributed biodata resources and their interconnectivity, with a view to engaging stakeholders in the development and evaluation of models for sustainability.
We are looking for a pro-active, broadly skilled Biodata Infrastructure Technical Analyst to grow our operational intelligence base on global biodata infrastructure. You will develop and maintain analytical tools, and deliver analysis using these tools around the discovery, characterisation and usage of global biodata resources. You will report to the GBC Scientific Head.
Your role as Biodata Infrastructure Technical Analyst will include:
- Development and maintenance of the body of software used in discovery and analysis of biodata resources and their interconnections
- Management of GBC software repositories and cloud deployment environments
- Maintenance and routine refresh of the GBC Global Inventory of biodata resources
- Usage and other analyses relating both to the GBC’s Global Core Biodata Resources and to the broader global biodata infrastructure
- Citation, and citation network, analysis relating to global biodata resources
- Text mining of the scholarly literature and other corpora for the extraction of biodata resource information and evidence of usage
- Engagement and collaboration with external groups that build and maintain tools, services, catalogues, registries and other resources that relate to the delivery of GBC analytics
- Communication verbally and in writing of analytical findings to members of the GBC Secretariat and external stakeholders
You have:
- Undergraduate degree in either:
- Leadership of computational projects with responsibility for design, implementation and delivery
- Authorship and maintenance of technical documentation
- Strong Python skills for data cleaning, analysis, and visualisation
- Ability to design reproducible data pipelines and maintain well-documented datasets
- Experience with workflow tools such as Nextflow
- Experience retrieving and integrating data from REST APIs, databases, and public data services
- Strong SQL skills for querying relational databases
- Experience using AI-assisted coding and workflow tools to support reproducible data analysis, with appropriate human review
- Experience applying machine-learning methods to text classification, named entity recognition, or information extraction
- Experience with Git/GitHub/GitLab
- Experience with cloud platforms, especially Google Cloud
- High attention to detail
- Ability to present analytical findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
- A collaborative mindset
- High level of organisation
- Work independently as well as part of a team
You might also have:
- Postgraduate qualification in informatics or life science
- Involvement in bioinformatics data analysis
- Work within the life sciences biodata resource ecosystem
- Familiarity with biodata resources, biodata types, accession identifiers, and life-science data repositories
- Experience working with Python notebooks, such as Jupyter or Google Colab
- Experience with dashboarding, reporting, or interactive visualisation tools
- Experience with bibliometrics, citation analysis, or citation-network analysis
- Experience with text mining of scholarly literature, metadata, citations, acknowledgements, or full-text corpora
Contract length: 3 years. Salary: Grade 5 or 6 monthly salary from £3,452.05 or £3,861.91 after tax plus generous benefits and financial allowances based on personal circumstances. Excluding personal pension and insurance contributions.
Interviews will be held virtually over Zoom on Thursday 20th August 2026.
Why join us:
- Do something meaningful: At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind’s greatest challenges.
- Join a culture of innovation: We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside.
- Enjoy lots of benefits: Financial incentives, flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, generous time off, relocation package, campus life benefits, family benefits, and benefits for non-UK residents.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page.
What else you need to know:
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions.
- EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
Closing Date: 17/08/2026
GBC Biodata Infrastructure Technical Analyst employer: EMBL
ELIXIR is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, ideal for those passionate about advancing life sciences. Located near the vibrant city of Cambridge, UK, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that encourages professional growth and impactful contributions to scientific research. With a commitment to uniting diverse stakeholders and driving meaningful change, ELIXIR offers unique opportunities to shape the future of data infrastructure in Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land GBC Biodata Infrastructure Technical Analyst
✨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 EMBL. 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 EMBL!
We think you need these skills to ace GBC Biodata Infrastructure Technical Analyst
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 EMBL 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 EMBL.
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 EMBL 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 EMBL
✨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 EMBL. 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 EMBL'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 EMBL. This shows your passion for the industry!
