Postdoctoral Research Associate

Location: Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL

About the role

The Kelly lab is looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on the OrthoFinder project.

Comparative genomics, and specifically our ability to identify which genes are related in different species, has revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. It enables us to reconstruct the tree-of-life on Earth, it allows us to reveal how biological function has evolved and is distributed on this tree, and it is the foundation that enables us to use model organisms to study health and disease. Accordingly, almost all of contemporary biological science research is critically dependent on our ability to identify which genes are related in different species. The Kelly lab has developed the OrthoFinder comparative genomic methods.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and extension of the OrthoFinder software, including implementing new functionality to improve its accuracy, scalability, and analytical capabilities. This will involve integrating newly developed comparative genomics methods into the OrthoFinder pipeline and supporting its continued evolution as a research tool. This role will require strong experience in software development and data analysis, with a focus on building robust, efficient computational workflows. The successful candidate will also engage with the OrthoFinder user community, contributing to issue resolution and ongoing software maintenance.

About you

The Kelly lab welcomes individuals with diverse career backgrounds – PhD-level (you will hold, or be close to completion of a PhD) scientists in any discipline with expertise in data and programming, or software engineers outside of academia looking to change career to biological research are particularly welcome to apply.

This role will require strong experience in software development and data analysis, with a focus on building robust, efficient computational workflows.

How to apply

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This post is full time and available immediately for 3 years.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 26th June. Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

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