At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a passionate team to develop innovative bioinformatics workflows and analyse cutting-edge genomic data.
- Company: ISOgenix, an Oxford University spin-out focused on breakthrough therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, work-life balance, and continuous professional development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on developing new medicines while working with advanced technologies.
- Qualifications: PhD in Computational Biology or related field, with strong coding and analysis skills.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for significant career growth in a dynamic biotech setting.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ยฃ per year.
Important: Please read the application instructions at the bottom of this page carefully before applying. Applications are accepted by email only at hr@isogenixtx.com. Applications submitted via LinkedIn Easy Apply will not be reviewed.
About ISOgenix
We are an Oxford University spin-out developing breakthrough therapies for the treatment of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Our approach builds upon novel protein isoform insights identified using our state-of-the-art technologies including long read sequencing and proprietary bioinformatics pipelines. Our founding team has decades of experience in the field of precision medicines, and we have an unwavering focus on developing novel therapies for patients. We are based in Oxford, UK (www.isogenixtx.com).
Summary of Position
Weโre looking for a highly talented and motivated Bioinformatician / Computational Scientist with a strong biology background to join us. In addition to possessing highly relevant expertise, the successful applicant will share our passion for groundbreaking science and be keen to work in a small but growing biotechnology team. They will work collaboratively, openly and be keen to take on new responsibilities as our science progresses and business grows. This position is hybrid, with a requirement to be on site at least one day a week.
Responsibilities
- Collaborating closely with internal scientists and external partners to design, implement, and improve custom bioinformatics workflows, scripts, and analysis tools to support target discovery and drug development.
- Developing, maintaining, and extending bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of sequencing data generated from Illumina and PacBio platforms, including ad hoc analyses to address specific biological questions (e.g. novel exon discovery, isoform usage, splicing changes).
- Writing and modifying code (e.g. in R, Python, or related languages) to perform bespoke data analyses beyond standard, off-the-shelf bioinformatics tools.
- Supporting the use of cloud-based computing environments (e.g. AWS) for running and scaling bioinformatics workflows and managing large sequencing datasets.
- Contributing to the organisation, storage, and management of bioinformatics data, ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and traceability.
- Analysing and interpreting genomics and transcriptomics data in a disease-relevant biological context and translating results into actionable insights for experimental follow-up.
- Communicating results clearly to both computational and experimental collaborators through written reports, visualisations, and presentations at team meetings.
Qualifications
To excel in this role, you should possess the following qualifications and skills:
Essential- A PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related field, with experience in transcriptomics analysis.
- Experience with mammalian genomics and transcriptomics; experience with human genomics and transcriptomics is required.
- Good understanding of human disease biology and genetics.
- Practical experience analysing NGS datasets, including DNA- and RNA-sequencing data, with hands-on experience in analyses such as variant calling, differential expression, and pathway or functional analysis, and interpretation of results in a biological context; experience with single-cell RNA-seq and/or splicing analysis is a plus.
- Experience building and maintaining bioinformatics workflows that combine custom scripts with public datasets and bioinformatics tools, using workflow management systems (e.g. Snakemake, Nextflow).
- Proficiency in R and/or Python, with a solid understanding of statistical methods for biological data analysis and demonstrated ability to write and modify custom code to perform bespoke and ad hoc analyses beyond standard bioinformatics tools.
- Experience delivering multiple analysis projects in parallel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong attention to documentation and organisation, with the ability to maintain clear, well-structured records of bioinformatics pipelines, analyses, and reports to support reproducibility and traceability.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex analyses to both computational and experimental scientists.
- Experience with long read RNA sequencing data analysis (e.g. PacBio ISO-Seq), including de novo isoform discovery, transcript quantification and splicing analysis.
- Experience demonstrated through publicly available projects (e.g. GitHub) is a plus.
- Background in neurological / neurodegenerative disease biology.
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary team (e.g. involving clinicians, experimental scientists, and computational scientists) and/or in a broader collaborative research and operational environments.
- Familiarity with cloud-based computing environments (e.g. AWS) and databases (SQL) for genomics data processing and storage.
Benefits
We are committed to creating an inspiring and supportive work environment. As a Bioinformatician, you will enjoy:
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- A healthy work-life balance.
- Continuous professional development and learning opportunities.
- An open, collaborative and supportive working environment.
- Working in a small dynamic with the opportunity to ultimately make a significant impact on the development of new medicines for diseases with significant unmet need.
How to Apply
If youโre excited to join us, please submit your CV along with a brief cover letter addressing the following question to hr@isogenixtx.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we aim to fill the position promptly. We therefore encourage qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Screening question
Please describe a project in which you designed, modified, and implemented a bioinformatics analysis pipeline and/or performed custom coding or ad hoc analyses. In your response, indicate:
- The type of data analysed (e.g. human transcriptomics, RNA-seq; specify short-read and/or long-read if applicable)
- Your level of involvement (e.g. pipeline design, scripting/coding, tool integration)
- Brief description of custom analyses or code you developed beyond standard tools (please include a link to GitHub or a similar repository, if applicable)
- The biological question being addressed and how the analysis informed biological understanding or downstream decisions
Please note: You are welcome to keep your response high level and should not include any confidential or proprietary information.
Bioinformatician in Oxford employer: ISOgenix Limited
Contact Detail:
ISOgenix Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice ๐คซ
We think this is how you could land Bioinformatician in Oxford
โจTip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the bioinformatics field, attend relevant meetups or conferences, and donโt be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
โจTip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a GitHub repository showcasing your bioinformatics projects and analyses. This not only demonstrates your coding abilities but also gives potential employers a glimpse of your problem-solving skills in action.
โจTip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common bioinformatics questions and case studies. Practice explaining your past projects clearly and concisely, focusing on your contributions and the impact they had on the research.
โจTip Number 4
Donโt forget to apply through our website! Itโs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows youโre genuinely interested in joining our team at ISOgenix and contributing to groundbreaking science.
We think you need these skills to ace Bioinformatician in Oxford
Some tips for your application ๐ซก
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you dive into your application, take a moment to really absorb the job description. Itโs packed with info about what weโre looking for in a Bioinformatician, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and qualifications.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Donโt just send a generic CV! We want to see how your skills and experiences align with our needs. Highlight relevant projects, especially those involving bioinformatics pipelines or custom coding, and make sure to address the screening question directly in your cover letter.
Show Off Your Coding Skills: Since coding is a big part of this role, donโt shy away from showcasing your programming prowess. Include examples of your work, like links to GitHub repositories, and describe any custom analyses youโve performed that go beyond standard tools.
Follow Application Instructions to the Letter: We canโt stress this enough! Make sure to submit your application via email to hr@isogenixtx.com as specified. Applications sent through LinkedIn Easy Apply wonโt be reviewed, so stick to the guidelines to ensure your application gets seen!
How to prepare for a job interview at ISOgenix Limited
โจKnow Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your bioinformatics knowledge, especially around transcriptomics and NGS datasets. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've designed or modified analysis pipelines, as this will show your hands-on experience.
โจShow Your Passion
ISOgenix is all about groundbreaking science, so let your enthusiasm shine through! Talk about why you're excited about their work in neurodegenerative diseases and how your background aligns with their mission.
โจPrepare for Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions related to coding in R or Python, and be prepared to explain your thought process. Practise explaining complex analyses in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both computational and experimental scientists.
โจAsk Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Ask about their current projects or how they envision the role evolving as the company grows. This shows you're genuinely interested and thinking about the future.