Bioinformatician postdoctoral position to study the auditory system of diseasetransmitting mosq[...]

Bioinformatician Postdoctoral Position to Study the Auditory System of Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes

Disease-transmitting mosquitoes are endowed with some of the most complex ears across the animal kingdom that they use to detect mating partners. In our lab, we investigate fundamental biology aspects of the mosquito auditory function and explore novel approaches to disrupt it for vector control. We are looking for a motivated and talented bioinformatician to work on the analysis of transcriptomic data of the mosquito ear across different species and develop novel computational pipelines to study its auditory physiology.

The position will be located at the Vector Biology Lab led by Marta Andres in Animal Health Research Centre (CISA) within the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The CISA is one of the main institutions in Spain dedicated to animal and public health, emergent diseases and zoonoses. The lab is starting, and this is an exciting opportunity to join a growing community in an emerging field of research in Spain. We use a combination of approaches that include molecular biology, physiological and behavioural techniques, CRISPR-Cas 9 genome editing and multi-omics approaches. The lab is funded by an excellent ATRAE Programme and European Commission funds.

What We Are Looking For?

We are seeking to hire a highly talented and motivated bioinformatician / computational biologist. The selected candidate will analyse large transcriptomics data (potentially multi-omics data) related to the mosquito auditory function and mating behaviour generated by other members of the team and international collaborators. They will also contribute to develop analytical pipelines and computational workflows to analyse physiological and behavioural data, including auditory signal processing and image and video analysis. The candidate will work in an environment of biologists, so they must be able to work autonomously.

About the Project

We investigate the molecular basis and physiology of disease-transmitting mosquito species. Our previous work has investigated malaria mosquitoes, we will continue with this species but expanding to other mosquito species relevant for animal and public health in Southern Europe. The lab is starting at CISA-CSIC and therefore this position will be essential to establish analytical workflows and pipelines that will be used by all team members. The position has two main components. The first one involves analysing new transcriptomic data (potentially multi-omics data in the future) from the ear of different mosquito species as well as integrating data previously generated from different labs. This component will include strong interactions with international (in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa) and industry partners as part of a MSCA Staff Exchange grant. The second component will focus on developing computational pipelines for signal processing, mostly mosquito auditory recordings and video data analysis. Although experience in both fields would be desirable, candidates with experience in only one of them will be considered if they show strong interest to further develop their skills.

Training and Experience / Qualifications

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer sciences, or a related field. Applications from experienced candidates who have not completed a PhD may be considered.
• Strong background in bioinformatics analysis of omics data or signal processing (previous experience in one of the two is essential).
• Previous research experience in mosquito or insects related data (desirable).
• Background knowledge of Physics or Mathematics (desirable).
• Interest in understanding the biology associated with the data analysed.
• Ability to work both autonomously and in close collaboration with other members of a team in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication skills to interact with researchers and present complex findings in a clear and understandable manner.
• Experience in project design and grant writing would be an advantage.
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation; passion for science!

Key Responsibilities

The main tasks will be to analyse the data generated by other members of the team and to develop new methods of analysis. The selected candidate is expected to be creative in developing analytical approaches that result in maximal biological insight from the data generated.

The bioinformatician is expected to write manuscripts describing the data analysed, in collaboration with other members of the team. The successful candidate is also expected to assist wet lab scientists of the team in simple bioinformatic analyses and to develop pipelines that can be used by all members of the team for routine analyses. Good integration in the team environment is essential.

Specific Duties

• Analyse and interpret transcriptomic data to derive meaningful insights.
• Develop and implement computational pipelines and analytical workflows for signal processing, including audio and video signals.
• Integrate multiple transcriptomic datasets from different laboratories, contribute to analytical workflow development.
• Interact with international partners.
• Adapt computational pipelines to user-friendly formats that can be used by other lab members.
• Provide guidance and/or training to wet lab scientists in basic bioinformatics and computational biology.
• Contribute to writing research manuscripts describing the data analysed and assist in grant writing.
• Present results in scientific conferences and represent the research group at external meetings and seminars.
• Contribute to scientific discussion (e.g., in lab meetings).

Skills

• Ability to develop new techniques and projects.
• Ability to analyse, and interpret, research findings independently in a rigorous and quantitative way.
• Proven ability and commitment to carry out high-quality original research, leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and manage time effectively; good organisational skills.
• Excellent organisation skills; ability to work systematically to maximise accuracy and minimise errors.
• Capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to supervise academic work by undergraduates, masters and doctorate students.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and collaborate with wet lab researchers and medical entomologists.
• Ability to adapt to different working environments and work collaboratively.
• The highest ethical and professional standards in research.
• Commitment to academic research.
• Highly self-motivated and hard-working.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Show initiative and have the ability to judge when to use it.
• Flexible attitude to work, including the ability to take up new tasks when required.

Conditions

• Duration: initially one year, extendable for up to two additional years.
• Contract: Full time, potential for hybrid work.
• Salary Range: According to CSIC salary scales, will depend on the level of experience and qualifications.

How to Apply

Applicants must send their CV and cover letter. Each attached document must be named with the candidate's name and surname.