Biocurator / Senior Biocurator

Advert

Biocurator / Senior Biocurator
Division of Infection and Immunity
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

The global lipid database, LIPID MAPS (http://lipidmaps.org/) is seeking a candidate with a biochemistry or biological chemistry background who can support collating the chemical structures of lipids and lipid-associated biomolecular/chemical information for our databases. The candidate would also have the opportunity to take the lead on developing and managing biochemical pathway curation.

The position will be based Cardiff University’s Heath Park campus, but will link with LIPID MAPS partners, in University of California San Diego, Babraham Institute in Cambridge, Swansea University and Edinburgh University.
Experience of working with ontologies in the context of curating biological molecules would be an advantage but is not essential.

In this role, you will:

• Support curation of lipid structures from the literature and other sources
• Curate lipid biochemistry pathways

We’d would like to hear from you if you have:

• A degree or PhD in a relevant discipline
• Knowledge/experience of working within either biocuration or biochemistry
• Demonstrable knowledge of key advances within lipid biochemistry

We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with

great benefits

and opportunities for progression. We are a proud Living Wage supporter.

Please contact Matthew Conroy ([email protected] ) for an informal discussion about the role.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) available immediately and fixed term for a period of 18 months.

If appointed as a Biocurator
Salary: £32,332 - £34,980 per annum (Grade 5) 

If appointed as a Senior Biocurator
Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6)

When applying please state clearly on your supporting statement which role you are applying for.
Appointments at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Closing date: Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Job Purpose
Support the University within the LIPID MAPS team, curating data in the field of lipid biochemistry, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area. 

Grade 6
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties
•    Curate data in the field of lipid biochemistry to facilitate the LIPID MAPS project
•    Provide professional advice and guidance on biocuration processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood
•    Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within curation where they fall within set role objectives
•    Investigate and analyse specific issues within curation, creating recommendation reports.
•    Ensure that the provision of biocuration is delivered to LIPID MAPS, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements
•    Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required
•    Plan and deliver specific small scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed
•    Develop and deliver training within lipid biochemistry
•    Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department
•    Instruct and guide other employees across the University within lipidomic data for LIPID MAPS
Grade 5
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties
•    Curate data in the field of lipid biochemistry to facilitate the LIPID MAPS project
•    Provide professional advice and guidance on biocuration processes and procedures to internal and external customers, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood
•    Investigate and analysis specific issues within curation, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within lipid biochemistry
•    Ensure that the provision of the biocuration is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements
•    Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures
•    Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required
•    Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve school/departmental objectives
•    Supervise specific project teams on an occasional basis to accomplish key objectives
•    Develop and deliver training within lipid biochemistry
•    Undertake a variety of  administrative duties to support the department
•    Instruct and guide other employees across the University within lipidomic data for LIPID MAPS as required

General Duties
•    Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
•    Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
•    Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

Grade 6
Essential Criteria 
Qualifications and Education
1.    Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.    Substantial experience of working within biological chemistry or biochemistry
3.    Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within curation of biological data using existing or developing ontologies to give advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders
4.    Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures
Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5.    Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people
6.    Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered
7.    Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments
Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
8.    Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions
9.    Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within lipid biochemistry
10.  Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams
Desirable Criteria 
11.    Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
12.    Knowledge of relational databases
13.    Experience of coding in at least 1 programming language 

Grade 5
Essential Criteria 
Qualifications and Education
1.    A degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.    Substantial experience of working within biological chemistry or biochemistry
3.    Able to demonstrate professional knowledge curation of biological data using existing or developing ontologies to give advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders
4.    Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate
Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5.    Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people
6.    Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered
Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
7.    Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes
8.    Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within lipid biochemistry
9.    Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.
Other
10.    A willingness to undertake further training and development
Desirable Criteria 
11.    Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience
12.    Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
13.    Knowledge of relational databases
14.    Experience of coding in at least 1 programming language 

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is the School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.
Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 18423BR.
If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Job Category

Academic - Research, Medical & Dental