Full-Time Bioinformatician – Functional Genomics Submissions and Pipelines
Job Description
Your role
We are seeking a highly motivated Bioinformatician to strengthen our submission and analysis pipelines for functional genomics data, with a strong focus on new technologies such as spatial transcriptomics and AI-ready data formats.
You will
- Develop and maintain submission and brokering pipelines, including new functionality for spatial transcriptomics and emerging functional genomics technologies.
- Design and implement validation tools for both metadata and file formats of existing and emerging functional genomics assays, contributing to community standards and FAIR data practices.
- Support and enhance internal brokering services for functional genomics submissions, ensuring they remain sustainable and adaptable.
- Develop, maintain, and optimise automated processing pipelines (HPC and Cloud) for harmonisation of functional genomics datasets (bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, spatial assays).
- Contribute to downstream integration into Expression Atlas and related resources, with scope to explore new visualisation or analysis approaches.
- Update data models and outputs to ensure they are AI-ready, interoperable, and reusable.
- Apply modern software engineering best practices, including version control, testing, CI/CD, reproducibility, and containerisation.
- Ensure pipelines and services run reliably in production, with a strong focus on usability and reproducibility for end-users.
- Engage actively with the user community through helpdesk support, training events, and presentations, ensuring that tools and services meet their needs.
- Collaborate with curators, developers, and external partners, engage with the user community, and represent the team at international meetings.
You have
- MSc or PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Proven experience developing and optimising bioinformatics pipelines
- Strong experience working in Unix/Linux environments on HPC and/or Cloud platforms with demanding use cases.
- Strong programming skills in at least two of Python, R, Bash, or Perl.
- Proven experience with workflow management systems (e.g. Nextflow or Snakemake).
- Proficiency in Git/GitHub and robust testing strategies
- Experience with dependency management (containers, Conda).
- Working knowledge of relational databases (SQL and NoSQL) and REST APIs.
- Familiarity with functional genomics data types (bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq; spatial an advantage).
- Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to deliver high-quality work to deadlines.
You may also have
- Experience with data brokering and curation, metadata standards, or ontologies.
- Interest in functional genomics data visualisation or data science.
- Knowledge of DevOps practices, Kubernetes, CI/CD, or software packaging.
- Interest in data visualisation or AI/ML methods for bioinformatics.
- DevOps experience is a plus
Apply now! Benefits and Contract Information
- Financial incentives: depending on circumstances, monthly family/marriage allowance of £278 monthly child allowance of £336 per child. Non resident allowance up to £569 per month. Annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
- Hybrid working arrangements
- Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
- Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays
- Relocation package including installation grant (as applicable)
- Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
- Family benefits: On-site nursery, child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
- Contract duration: This position is a 12 month fixed-term contract – Project limited (with potential for renewal depending on funding).
- Salary: Monthly salary starting at £3,303 after tax but excl. pension & insurances) + benefits (Total package will be dependent on family circumstances)
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
- Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.