Research Associate (Bioinformatician)

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Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment.

Research Associate (Bioinformatician)
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

We have an exciting opportunity to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced bioinformatician to join Dr Connor-Robson's research group within the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Dr Connor-Robson's lab centres on the use of cutting-edge induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to study the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases with particular focus on endocytic dysfunction. The group study neurons, microglia and astrocytes models to translate the complex genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease into a better understanding of cellular and molecular changes that occur during disease. The labs ultimate aim is to translate our findings into better drug targets and therapeutic strategies.

We are seeking an enthusiastic Research Associate to join the team. This person will work with transcriptomic and proteomic datasets from our novel Alzheimer's disease patient derived iPSC lines and use them to investigate disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic avenues. The project is a collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Sparc who the successful candidate will work alongside to help identify novel therapeutic targets. The successful candidate will work together with others in the lab to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease. They will be highly independent and will help drive the project to its fruitful completion.

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century. There is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it. The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap. The UK DRI is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK. Centred on the need for innovative, early-stage science to advance our understanding of how dementias develop and progress, the UK DRI's research will bring new therapies to patients faster. The Institute's mission is to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementias, whilst finding better ways to provide care for people with dementia. The UK DRI at Cardiff is one of 7 UK centres bringing together world-leading scientists to deliver a step-change in the scientific understanding of dementia, generating new targets for drug development, reinvigorating the therapeutic pipeline and helping to transform care. The UK DRI's Early Career Researcher (ECR) network is particularly strong and includes ECR-focussed grant and career development opportunities.

For informal enquiries please contact Natalie Connor-Robson on connor-robsonnl@cardiff.ac.uk.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1 April 2025 and fixed term until 31 March 2026, based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus.

Salary: £40,247 - £45,163 per annum (Grade 6). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under "blended working" arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Closing date: Monday, 24 February 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Job Purpose

To conduct research to understand the molecular mechanisms relating to the endocytic pathway in Alzheimer's disease using novel transcriptomic and proteomic datasets from our unique patient derived iPSC models. This project is in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Sparc who you will work closely with to develop the bioinformatics findings to potential therapeutic targets. You will contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

1. To conduct bioinformatics and functional genomics research on a range of biological data relevant to cellular dysfunction and molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences.
2. To work with novel transcriptomics and proteomic datasets to provide insight into cellular changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
3. To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
4. To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
5. To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
6. To review and synthesise existing research literature around informatics relevant to Alzheimer's disease.
7. To participate in School research activities.
8. To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other

1. To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
2. To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
3. To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
4. Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 19687BR.

How we will support you in performing in this role

There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see 'Essential Criteria'), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you:

1. Regular one-to-ones with your manager.
2. An experienced and supportive team around you.
3. Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require.
4. A mentoring scheme.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in bioinformatics, a related subject area or relevant industrial experience.
2. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within Bioinformatics/Biostatistics, especially gene and protein expression/functional genomics.
3. Experience in using R, UNIX/Linux and/or Python scripting and the manipulation and analysis of large biological datasets in different data formats.
4. Knowledge of current status of research on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
5. Proven ability to publish in national/international journals or other research outputs.
6. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.

Communication and Team Working

1. Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication.
2. Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

Other

1. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.
2. Proven ability to work without close supervision.

Desirable Criteria

1. Knowledge around the endocytic and/or autophagy pathways and of the therapeutic pipeline.
2. Expertise in advanced statistical approaches and/or AI/ML approaches.
3. Experience of working with pharmaceutical or industry partners.
4. Experience of iPSC culture and models.
5. Evidence of ability to collaborate successfully and to contribute work to publications and presentations.
6. Commitment to reproducibility and open science.