Postdoctoral Researcher, VibrioWatchNet Training Development and Delivery, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway 100-24

26 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Galway

Research Field

Mathematics » Statistics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Ireland

Application Deadline

10 Apr 2024 - 17:00 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time fixed term position as a Research Associate/Postdoctoral Researcher within the Discipline of Bioinformatics, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Galway, Ireland. This full-time appointment is part of VibrioWatchNet, an international training and capacity-building project that aims to increase global capacity to use genomics to control cholera.

This position is funded through a sub-award from the Wellcome Sanger Institute (WSI), and is available immediately through to an expected contract end date of 30/11/2026.

Job Description:

The successful candidate will play a key role in the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of research-informed training courses for cholera genomics in low/middle income countries (LMICs). The appointee will travel overseas to deliver three one-week training courses, as part of a training team of international experts in pathogen genomics and Vibrio cholerae biology.

The appointee will use their research-derived knowledge of genomics, pathogen biology, or public health to distil requirements and ensure – in partnership and collaboration with in-country hosts and other stakeholders – that training meets the specific needs of each audience. The appointee will take a leading role in creating a bespoke, research-led online course, which will be delivered asynchronously and will also play a critical role in widening and deepening the international reach of the VibrioWatchNet community. The appointee will contribute wherever possible to the objectives of the overall VibrioWatchNet research grant and its linked activities, and to the use of the VibrioWatch platform for cholera genomics research.

As well as in-person and remote training, the appointee will help to support an online forum of cholera genomics experts and trainees, as well as a capstone symposium on cholera genomics towards the end of the project. Successful execution of this role will contribute to the creation and maturation of a global Community of Practice on using genomics for effective cholera control. The appointee will benefit from the existing network of collaboration around which VibrioWatchNet is built, and will be supported logistically by administrative resources at WSI dedicated to this project.

The University of Galway is collaborating with WSI to deliver the VibrioWatchNet project. Project investigators are based at University of Galway and at WSI, and the overall project is led by the WSI principal investigator.

N.B.: Applicants should be aware that the successful appointee will be required to travel overseas to deliver in-person training, and that course delivery dates may not be flexible. The host countries for training courses are subject to change, but it is expected that courses will be run in Southern Africa, South East Asia, and North Africa/the Middle East. More details on all of these points can be provided at the interview stage.

Duties

• To conduct a specified programme of research and scholarship under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator at the University of Galway (PI);
• To develop, refine, and teach on research-led and cutting-edge training programmes in cholera public health and V. cholerae genomics, tailored to the needs of LMICs and specific audiences, making use of the post-holder’s expertise in genomics or pathogen biology research, and in partnership with project team members and international collaborators;
• To travel to at least three overseas destinations, including LMICs, to deliver in-person training courses using the material developed by the post-holder;
• To collaborate with the project team and use personal expertise to support cholera genomics research projects or other research activities linked to VibrioWatchNet;
• To contribute actively to publications or other disseminating activities resulting from the VibrioWatchNet project;
• To know the legal requirements regarding data protection and confidentiality data protection requirements, and to comply with these requirements;
• To act independently, with delegated authority where appropriate and previously approved, but to escalate issues or decisions to senior team members when necessary;
• To present on research progress and outcomes e.g. to bodies supervising research; conferences, steering groups; funders; stakeholders; other team members, as agreed with the PI / project leads;
• To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the PI, your School or Institute, or the University;
• To be an active and collegiate team member within the PI’s research group;
• To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD, and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor;
• To complete any administrative work needed to support the programme of research, including contributing to management of project finances (under the guidance of the PI/budget holder);
• Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post.

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential Requirements:  

• Minimum of primary degree (level 8) in relevant discipline with 4 years full-time relevant research after primary degree (for Research Associate appointment) or a minimum of PhD in relevant discipline (for Postdoctoral Researcher appointment);
• Research experience in UNIX/Linux-based bioinformatics with emphasis on analysing whole-genome sequencing data from pathogens (e.g., experience in the calling of single-nucleotide variants, and the assignment of samples to genomic lineages with clustering and/or phylogenetic approaches);
• Experience of training others in bioinformatics or computational genomics, including demonstrating or supervising dry-lab practicals at university level;
• Meticulous organisational skills and an ability to work to inflexible deadlines (such as pre-determined course delivery dates);
• Consummate professionalism in interacting with stakeholders, in Ireland as well as overseas;
• Demonstrated respect for cultural differences and an agility to accommodate such differences in teaching or other project activities;
• Confidence in communicating complex research observations and conclusions to non-expert audiences;
• Fluency in the vocabulary and vernacular of at least two of: bioinformatics, bacterial pathogen genomics, public health, cholera epidemiology, or communicating research data to policymakers.

Desirable Requirements:  

• Prior experience in the genomic analysis of Vibrio cholerae or other bacterial pathogens;
• Experience of interpreting genomic or infectious disease research data in the context of public health interventions;
• Experience of teaching overseas;
• Familiarity with containerised approaches to software packaging – Docker, etc.;
• Experience of working in resource-limited settings and/or of performing research analyses using minimal computational infrastructure;
• Experience of managing research and/or operational activities across multiple timezones and with multiple stakeholders;
• Practical skills in using Oxford Nanopore sequencers, library preparation, and flow cell loading;
• Spoken or written proficiency in any of French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Filipino, or Malay.

 

Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post

 

Salary:  Research Associate/Postdoctoral Researcher salary scale €42,782 - €54,965 per annum, (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.

 

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.

 

Research Salary Scales - University of Galway).

 

Start date: Position is available immediately

 

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment - see HERE  for further information.

 

Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway

 

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

 

Further information about the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences is available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/science-engineering/school-of-maths/

 

 

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter (two A4 pages max), CV (two A4 pages max), and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Matthew Dorman: [email protected]

 

Please put reference number University of Galway 100-24 in subject line of e-mail application.

 

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm (Irish Time) on 10th April 2024

 

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

 

University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

 

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment

 

Requirements

Research Field

Mathematics » Statistics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Galway

Country

Europe

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

Ireland

City

Galway

Website

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/

Street

University Road

Postal Code

H91 TK33

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED