Senior Computer Biologist / Computer Biologist

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Ref: 80957
Salary range from £21,115 pa dependent on experience

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a world leader in genomic research, with an expanding scientific programme dedicated to understanding gene function in health & disease.

We are seeking highly motivated individuals who will use their biological expertise to contribute to producing reference gene sets annotated on human, mouse and zebrafish genomes within the Havana team. We are looking to recruit either a Computer Biologist or a Senior Computer Biologist depending on skills, experience and knowledge

The team is responsible for the analysis and annotation of genomic sequence and have extensive collaborations with groups internally within the Sanger institute and externally including ENSEMBL, UCSC and NCBI. We are also responsible for producing the human reference gene set within the GENCODE group for international ENCODE project (see http://www.genome.gov/10005107).

As part of the Havana team you will be involved in analysing and interpreting human and vertebrate sequence data. Preparing and maintaining sequence annotation information for release on the Vega and Ensembl browsers. You will work alongside software and database developers to enhance annotation tools and assess the automatic analysis procedure. There will also be opportunity to attend conferences and workshops to present the work of Havana group.

Essential Skills
The ideal candidate for the Computer Biologist level will have a Degree in a bioscience and significant research experience in a genomics/genetics related field. For the more experienced role as a Senior Computer Biologist a PhD in biological science or alternatively, considerable post graduate experience in a genomics/genetics related field will be essential.

Both levels will require a proven interest in DNA or protein analysis, strong organisational and communication skills, self-motivation and a keen eye for detail are essential. These positions provide an excellent opportunity to use molecular biology experience in a non-laboratory field.

Ideal Skills
Unix knowledge and previous experience using annotation/analysis tools/genomic browsers would be an ideal requirement at any level.

Other information
We currently have two positions available, one of which is an open-ended contract and the other a fixed-term maternity cover.

Due to the nature of the contract no minimum or maximum period of employment can be guaranteed. You should be aware the maximum period of maternity leave available to our employees is 12 months.

Since these positions are advertised across two different grades salaries will depend on the expertise and knowledge of the successful applicant.

Benefits
The Institute has excellent purpose built facilities on the Genome Campus, Hinxton on the outskirts of Cambridge. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits including a final salary pension scheme and excellent on-site facilities. Further details can be found on our website https://jobs.sanger.ac.uk,

To submit your CV and apply for this job please go to https://jobs.sanger.ac.uk, to register and apply on line.
Please include a covering letter describing how your previous experiences make you a suitable candidate for this position.

The closing date is 02 September 2011