Job Description
Do you want to work as part of the HCA project to define comprehensive reference maps of all human cells? The HCA is using single cell gene expression techniques as the basis for both understanding human health and understanding different disease mechanisms. We are building and supporting the infrastructure and content standards which will be used by the HCA.
We are looking for a highly motivated bioinformatician to join the ingest support team to provide front line support on the Data Coordination Platform (DCP) for the Human Cell Atlas project (HCA https://www.humancellatlas.org ). In this role, you’ll be working directly with scientists who are pioneering single cell biology techniques, providing guidance and support for collecting the data and metadata they produced. You’ll also be assisting the HCA team in building the tools to support this process. You will work at EMBL-EBI located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge, UK.
Our team deliver simple, open, and direct access to all HCA data across many cloud-based systems. As part of this team, you will have many opportunities to engage with data generators, project users, and our collaborators from the Broad Institute, the University of California Santa Cruz, and our funders the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
The DCP includes:
- An ingestion interface enabling users to validate and submit data
- A query API to discover the HCA data
- Containerized analysis pipelines
- Interactive portals for data visualisation and analysis
Your role will involve:
- Designing and extending services to ensure the HCA is collecting high-quality
metadata to enable discovery and integration operations on its data.
- Working closely with collaborators at UCSC to coordinate data flow into the HCA
and EMBL-EBI archives from project contributors.
- Working with teams across EMBL-EBI to deliver components of the HCA Data
Coordination Platform.
- Collaborating with expert biologists to define and extend the minimum standards
for HCA data types.
- Defining requirements for HCA services.
- Developing and running training courses on how to submit data to the HCA
project.
- Representing the HCA team and EMBL-EBI at HCA project meetings and
international scientific conferences.
At EMBL-EBI, we help scientists realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology by enabling them to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. Working for EMBL-EBI gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and energy for the greater good. As part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), we are a non-profit, intergovernmental organisation funded by 23 member states and two associate member states and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK, and our 600 staff are engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals from all over the world.
Qualifications and Experience
You should hold an MSc, PhD, or have equivalent experience in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Genetics, or related fields including evidence of your ability to write, understand, and maintain complex code.
You should have experience in object-oriented programming and in developing software in a primarily Unix-based environment. You should be familiar with development tools such as Git and JIRA. Knowledge of python/perl, javascript, and JSON/YAML are preferred. Experience in developing computationally efficient solutions for running complex data flows and familiarity with both relational databases and document stores would be an advantage.
Do you love working in a team to support users to provide high quality, well described data? As a member of this team you will need to interact with users of the system, training them and providing ongoing support while they use the HCA ingestion service. You will also gather requirements from these users to inform new features in the system and help us improve the service we offer. Experience supporting data flow in large scientific collaborations will be considered an advantage.
Benefits
EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme and health insurance, educational and other family related benefits where applicable, as well as financial support for relocation and installation.
We have an informal culture, international working environment and excellent professional development opportunities but one of the really amazing things about us is the concentration of technical and scientific expertise – something you probably won’t find anywhere else.
If you’ve ever visited the campus you’ll have experienced first-hand our friendly, collegial and supportive atmosphere, set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. Our staff also enjoy excellent sports facilities including a gym, a free shuttle bus, an on-site nursery, cafés and restaurant and a library.
Application Instructions
To apply please submit a covering letter and CV, with two referees, through our online system.
Additional Information
Applications are welcome from all nationalities - visa information will be discussed in more depth with applicants selected for interview.
EMBL-EBI is committed to achieving gender balance and strongly encourages applications from women, who are currently under-represented at all levels. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
This position is limited to the project duration specified.
Applications will close at 23:00 GMT on the date listed above.