Research Software Engineer for microbiome bioinformatics

60%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Laboratory of Food Systems Biotechnology is seeking a Research Software Engineer to design and implement bioinformatics software for microbiome research.

Job description

You will develop bioinformatics software for applications in microbiome/biomedical research, including DNA sequencing and other omics data. You will be comfortable coordinating with a collaborative team of interdisciplinary scientists and engineers to develop and deploy open-source software in a diverse range of research topics.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Write and debug code being as part of a larger bioinformatic pipeline
• Participate in code reviews
• Maintain and improve software engineering practices within the group
• Support students/group members in programming and software usage
• Maintain software installations and data resources on our HPC and other computing resources

The position is located in the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health at ETH Zurich within the Laboratory of Food Systems Biotechnology (Prof. Dr. Nicholas Bokulich). The Bokulich laboratory develops bioinformatics methods and software for microbiome research, including QIIME 2 , and applies these tools to study microbiomes at the interfaces of foods and human health. For more information, see our Website or GitHub organization.

Your profile

You are a skilled programmer (incl. Python 3) who loves solving problems. You are experienced in using bioinformatics methods or motivated to learn. You are a collaborative team player with a high degree of independence and self-motivation.

Key Qualifications

• BSc or MSc degree in computer science, computational biology, bioinformatics, or a related field
• Software development experience, ideally using Python 3, in a version-controlled environment
• Experience with Git or other software version control systems
• Experience in collaborative software development projects
• Excellent interpersonal communication, teamwork, and organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and verbal)
• Knowledge of open-source licensing

Desired Qualifications

• HTML/CSS
• JavaScript
• Rust
• Experience with bioinformatic tools or interest to learn
• Experience working with high-performance computing environments and/or cloud computing environments

Your workplace

Your workplace

We offer

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.

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We value diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our

Equal Opportunities and Diversity website

to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following materials:

• A letter of intent (one page) that describes your suitability for the position
• An updated curriculum vitae including a list of publications, education, and any relevant software design experience
• Names and contact information of 2-3 professional references

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our ETH job portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

For further information about the group please visit our website https://fsb.ethz.ch/. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Prof. Dr. Nicholas Bokulich by email (see website for contact information).

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.