Senior Bioinformatician

About the Role

We are seeking a creative and enthusiastic post-doc to lead on the design, conduct, supervision and publication of bioinformatic analyses in the Modernising Medical Microbiology and Big Infection Diagnostics Theme of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, as well as contribute to planning future studies within the Theme and research funding applications.

Our Theme’s overall vision is to accelerate the development of both laboratory and data-driven diagnostics that are rapid, accurate, pathogen-agnostic and personalised, in order to improve patient management (including avoiding unnecessary or ineffective antibiotics); hospital management, including infection control (reducing nosocomial transmission); and public health and population-level policy-making. This post is critical to experimental medicine research aiming to exploit genetic sequencing more effectively, through supporting the development of rapid, pathogen agnostic, culture-independent metagenomic diagnostics in combination with a team of wet-laboratory scientists, which could be high-throughput, would allow rapid identification of resistance to antibiotics (or antivirals), predict phenotype from genotype, and identify closely related strains suggestive of transmission/outbreaks (mediated through clonal spread [e.g. Staphylococcus capitis, Clostridioides difficile] and/or horizontal transfer [e.g. multi-drug resistant Enterobacterales]). The capacity to participate iteratively in the development of workflows and the need to deliver results for real-time diagnosis and infection prevention decision-making means that time-critical delivery is essential to this role.

The post is full time and fixed term for 2 years in the first instance.

About the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine

The Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine (NDM) is one of the largest departments of the University of Oxford and is part of the Medical Sciences Division, with responsibility for a significant part of the teaching of clinical students within the Medical School.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ well-being and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

•         Flexible working

•         An excellent contributory pension scheme

•         38 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays)

•         A comprehensive range of childcare services

•         Family leave schemes

•         Cycle loan scheme

•         Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

The University also runs a large number of social groups and sports clubs for those looking for more than just a great place to work.

About You

The post-holder will need to work well in a diverse multi-disciplinary team and enjoy successfully completing challenging and rewarding projects. This is an exciting opportunity to drive the development of new metagenomic approaches to pathogen diagnostics and progress a career in applied bioinformatics, in a friendly and dynamic research group with a track record of translation of research and development into practice and products. The post-holder would be strongly encouraged to develop their own ideas for peer-reviewed publications and grant applications using the wealth of data generated by the MMM consortium over the last 15 years.

Applications are welcome from anyone with the right skills and interests, including those returning to work after career or other breaks. Part time working (minimum 80% FTE) would be considered, including requests to spread the hours over the week.

Application process

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

Only applications received before 12.00 midday on Monday 8th January 2024 will be considered.