Research Associate (557317)

We are looking for a Computational Biologist/Bioinformatician with strong Python skills to work with Dr Leighton Pritchard as part of a UK-US team building the genomeRxiv online service to provide a unified genome-derived prokaryote classification system. Travel to the US to engage with project partners is expected.

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week) 

Term: Fixed Term until 7/3/2024

We are looking for a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the area of Computational Biology/Bioinformatics to work in the group of Dr Leighton Pritchard (https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/pritchardleightondr/) at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) as part of the international team building the genomeRxiv online service.

This project is funded as part of the BBSRC/NSF-BIO scheme (BB/V010417/1) and is carried out in close collaboration with the groups of Prof. Boris Vinatzer and Prof. Lenwood Heath (Virginia Tech), and Prof. C. Titus Brown (UC Davis). The objective of this ambitious project is to provide a world-leading service that provides a unified genome-derived prokaryote classification system enabling immediate identification and sharing of sequenced prokaryote genomes, and design of molecular diagnostics.

More information about the project can also be found in the following publications:

• Mazloom,R, Pierce-Ward,T, Sharma,P, Pritchard,L, Brown,C, Vinatzer,B, Heath,L, 2023, LINgroups as aprincipled approach to compare and integrate multiple bacterial taxonomies, IEEE/ACM Transactions onComputational Biology and Bioinformatics https://doi.org/10.1145/3535508.3545546

• Pritchard,L, Brown,C, Harrington,B, Heath,L, Pierce-Ward,N, Vinatzer,B, 2022, Could a focus on the "why" oftaxonomy help taxonomy better respond to the needs of science and society?, Frontiers in Microbiology, vol 13 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.887310

• Pritchard, L; Harrington, B; Irber, L; Mazloom, R; Pierce, T; Heath, L; Brown, C; Vinatzer, B (2021). genomeRxiv: a microbial whole-genome database for classification, identification, and data sharing. figshare. Poster. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14376350.v2

This opportunity will enable you to apply your skills to internationally leading research in the area of prokaryote evolutionary genomics, taking the lead in developing the established pyani and pdp software tools, and integrating them into the genomeRxiv service. You will also promote genomeRxiv and deliver training on the service within the research community. The position is available until 1^st April 2024 in the first instance. Travel to the US to engage with project partners is expected.

You should have, or expect to be awarded, a PhD in an appropriate discipline (appointment may be made at a lower banding if no PhD), or have significant relevant experience in addition to a relevant degree. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in computational biology, and a developing ability to conduct individual research work, to disseminate results and to prepare research proposals. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team environment.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed by email to Leighton Pritchard, leighton.pritchard@strath.ac.uk.

Formal interviews for this post will be held in October.

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