Graduate Research Assistant (Bioinformatics) MRC

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home. 

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

This new full – time post is available from 1st February 2023 on a fixed term basis for two years.

Please note that as of 1st September 2022 our colleges and schools will be moving into a new structure which will consist of the following three Faculties – Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, (to include the Medical School),  Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, and Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Summary of the role

The post

We are looking to recruit a bioinformatician to work on a project funded by the Medical Research Council that aims to explore epigenetic variation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, the successful candidate will undertake statistical analyses, working with epigenomic data (DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications) generated by our group. They be responsible for processing large genomic datasets, running analyses and disseminating results to our network of collaborators.

The successful applicant will be based within the Complex Disease Epigenetics Group (http://www.epigenomicslab.com/) in the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Exeter. We are a dynamic, interdisciplinary team including molecular biologists, mathematicians and bioinformaticians researching the genomic basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease.

This MRC funded post is available from 1st January 2023 for two years.

Further background to research relating to the funded project can be found in the following publications from our group:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36153390/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32049030/

About you

The successful applicant will have experience in programming, statistics and genetic analyses. They will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies. They will be a confident user of a modern programming language such as R or Python and knowledgeable on good practices for writing reproducible code.  They must have a strong foundation in mathematics and be passionate about using their technical skills to address some pertinent biomedical research questions.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a subject with a substantial quantitative component or significant use of computer programming e.g.  mathematics, statistics, computer science,or  bioinformatics,  and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. 

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022).  

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. More than 99% of our research is of international quality and our world-leading research impact is growing faster than any other Russell Group university (2021 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City .

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including: 

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to six weeks full pay) and a new Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information  

Please contact Eilis Hannon and Jonathan Mill ([email protected] / [email protected] ).

The closing date for completed applications is 7th December 2022.  Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 12th December.

The College is proud to have a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment and impact to providing equality of opportunity and advancing the representation of women in STEM/M subjects.  Our Inspiring Stories tell you more about how we support our staff, including through a mentoring programme to help our staff learn from the professional and life experience of colleagues and explore opportunities and actions for career progression.