Information scientist or Bioinformatician : Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom

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Job Description

We are seeking to recruit an information scientist or bioinformatician to join the Literature Services Team at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) located on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK.

The European Bioinformatics Institute provides cutting edge research and services for biomolecular data. Our goal in the Literature Services Team is to integrate the open research literature with public data resources, supporting better search technologies, browse experiences, and database curation workflows.

This position is funded by the EC FREYA project, an international collaboration between STFC, CERN, the British Library, ORCID, DataCite, CrossRef, PANGAEA, DANS, the Australian National Data Service, and PLoS.

The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating the EMBL-EBI’s part in the FREYA project focusing on research into the state-of-the-art of persistent identifiers (PIDs). Working with other FREYA partners and colleagues at the EMBL-EBI, you will undertake analysis to gather data and requirements on potential new PID types, use cases and services. Understanding the current usage of PIDs, the landscape of mature services around PIDs, and identifying gaps will be a key part of the role, as will prototyping new PID services.

Specific job responsibilities include:

• Investigation into current usage and possible future requirements of persistent identifiers in the life sciences and (with other FREYA partners) in other disciplines;
• Data analysis (for example, trends in persistent identifier uptake);
• Contributing to the development of prototypes for new persistent identifier types or services around new uses of existing identifiers;
• Participation in FREYA project outreach activities, such as organizing community workshops;
• Point-of-contact for EMBL-EBI within the FREYA project, attending project meetings, writing reports, as required;

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 22 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

The successful candidate should demonstrate as many of the following as possible:

• Advanced degree e.g. MSc/MA or PhD in information science, bioinformatics, or similar
• Three years of professional experience from within either bioinformatics research, the journal publishing industry, information/library science, or similar
• Technical/analytical ability, for example, experience of one or two of: Perl, Java, XML technologies, R, complex query development;
• Experience in coordinating, leading, or organizing projects;
• Excellent and demonstrable written and verbal communication skills
• A passion for open science

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.