At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to engage biodata communities and identify their needs.
- Company: Join EMBL-EBI, a leader in biological data services and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and comprehensive health insurance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global health and biodiversity through your research.
- Qualifications: Experience with biodata services and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Your role involves working closely with senior colleagues responsible for data services, training, and infrastructure development. You will collaborate with EMBL-EBI's Global Engagement programme to:
- Develop a stakeholder map of the current landscape of life science data communities and resources in low and middle income countries, identifying gaps in engagement of biodata communities.
- Coordinate outreach to existing and new biodata communities to understand user needs, experiences, pain points, and opportunities regarding the use and development of biodata resources.
- Work with EMBL-EBI-based service teams to inform user research and raise awareness of new stakeholders or needs identified.
- Build and share understanding of global community challenges and identify priority use cases.
- Advise the Global Engagement programme on potential collaborations and partnerships.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead the EMBL-EBI Global Engagement programme user research to find and engage new key stakeholder communities.
- Connect key stakeholders with EMBL-EBI data resources and training teams.
- Run user research activities that enable key stakeholders from low and middle income countries to understand motivations and provide a forum for user needs to be heard.
- Ensure collaboration with ongoing activities within EMBL-EBI data service teams and central global engagement activities.
- Develop a framework for distributed user research, sharing expertise and insights with the Global Engagement programme.
- Propose recommendations for the development of data resources and/or new engagement channels or events through user research.
You have
- Familiarity with biodata services and the communities who use them.
- Ability to gather data resource requirements from audiences in the Global Engagement programme and communicate these to resource delivery teams.
- Experience interfacing with biodata scientific communities in Africa, Latin America, and/or South East Asia.
- Ability to combine experiences and intuition across multiple fields to build insights and perspectives adaptable to resource-limited settings.
- Strong communication skills with an appetite for building new relationships and keeping existing communities engaged.
You may also have
- Technical understanding of bioinformatics processes or operations through software engineering/web development projects, research/data service experiences, publications, and/or GitHub repositories.
- Demonstrated ability to deconstruct complex low resource problems into basic units and map these to requirements.
- Experience with internal and external communication strategies such as communication campaigns and social media engagements.
- Experience building strategic partnerships or communities, evident through establishing/managing scientific networks and communities.
Contract length: Project based contract for 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.
Why join us
At EMBL-EBI, you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis, and dissemination of large biological datasets, providing the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, in a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
- Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work, and unemployment insurances.
- Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns.
- Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover).
User Research Officer 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 User Research Officer
✨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 User Research Officer
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!
