Legume Breeding Data Manager

Applications are invited for a Legume Breeding Data Manager to join the Laboratory of Dr Jose De Vega in the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background: 

The Crop Genomics and Diversity group (De Vega's group) aims to investigate the diversity and evolution of crop landraces to accelerate crop improvement. We are a primarily computational group with bioinformatics, genome analysis, comparative genomics, and association mapping expertise. 

Legume Generation is a consortium to boost the breeding of six legume species in Europe by combining practical business-driven breeding with a supporting research base. The project involves 44 breeding and pre-breeding programmes in six legume species, and 34 partners across Europe. 

The role: 

The post holder will manage and curate an open access "Breedbase" digital platform hosted at the Earlham Institute. The platform is a centralised web-based platform (already available) for gathering and cataloguing genotyping and phenotyping data, metadata and association analysis (QTLs, markers, GWAS, etc) from cultivars and field trials on the six legume species. Datasets will be generated in the project or contributed from previous projects by the consortium partners. The post holder will develop new bioinformatic analysis of these research data to obtain new insights, e.g., when new markers or references become available. The successful candidate will ensure data is readily available to users to inform their breeding innovation.

The Legume Breeding Data Manager will also provide training and interpretation of the Data Management Plan, working with the partnering breeders and researchers to ensure data generated is managed in agreement to the project's FAIR Data Management Plan. They will network and coordinate with partners to unify practices and best practices on data management, creating templates and guidelines to facilitate the collection of the evaluation trials by partners and facilitate the centralised storage. 

This requires a general understanding on crop breeding and a good level of bioinformatics and computational skills, with a high level of autonomy and initiative. The post holder will disseminate their results in meetings and conferences, organise workshops and committee meetings, providing advice to partners in Europe, including formal training, strategic advice and coordination, and generally engaging and networking with a broad range of stakeholders, including breeding companies and other research centres. 

The ideal candidate: 

The successful candidate will have a BSc in biology, bioinformatics, computational biology or equivalent, with a track record in computational analysis, a PhD is advantageous. 

They will have a good understanding of how breeding works, user-level bioinformatic skills, and demonstrable experience in genomics or quantitative genetics. It is desirable if the post holder has experience in association mapping (QTL mapping, GWAS, Genomic Selection, etc). 

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £34,950 to £43,750 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.  This is a full-time post for a contract of 48 months. 

Interviews will be held on 4 December 2023. 

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.earlham.ac.uk/ or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004543. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. 

The closing date for applications will be 20/11/23.

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