Bioinformatician

The John Innes Centre; Norwich; On-site; GBP 37,000 - GBP 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Norwich is looking for a Bioinformatician to join their Informatics Platform. The successful candidate will provide computational biology expertise to research groups, enhance staff training in bioinformatics, and manage complex datasets. This role offers a full-time contract for 36 months, with a starting salary of £37,500 - £40,600 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. The position encourages collaboration within a diverse research environment.

Qualifications

• Essential skills in programming languages.
• Experience in managing and analyzing biological data.
• Ability to work independently and manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide computational biology expertise throughout project lifecycle.
• Train and mentor JIC staff and students in computational biology.
• Develop and maintain JIC's computational infrastructure.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Computational Biology

Programming Skills

Statistics

Problem Solving

Education

Undergraduate degree in a related discipline

PhD in a related discipline

Tools

Git

HPC Tools

Job description

Hours per week 37 Project Title Bioinformatician in Informatics Platform Months Duration 36

Job Description

The successful applicant will join a team of bioinformaticians and software engineers to engage in cutting‑edge computational analysis of plant‑and microbe research data. They will join research projects to conduct bioinformatics components as well as interact with researchers to provide guidance in bioinformatics. Besides project work, the applicant will also run courses in the JIC bioinformatics training programme that aims to enable staff members and students to conduct their own computational analyses.

Main Purpose of the Job

Key activities in the project work are primarily Sequence Analysis (Genomics/Transcriptomics), but also Image Analysis and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence. This role will act as a go‑to person for bioinformatic support and work together with all scientific levels within the John Innes Centre. The support ranges from short discussions to major contributions to science projects.

Key Relationships

The Support Bioinformatician will work on‑site as part of the JIC Informatics Platform. They will interact regularly with science staff from across the institute, working with individual research groups as well as supporting the wider Institute’s Strategic Programs. In that context, the job holder will also collaborate with international scientists on a regular basis.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage
Work with JIC research groups on scientific projects, providing computational biology expertise throughout the project lifecycle, from grant writing through data analysis to manuscript preparation. This will include guidance on the use of tools and pipelines and interpretation of their results and, where necessary, carrying out analysis directly. (40%)
Train and mentor JIC staff and students in computational biology, through development and delivery of structured courses, as well as informal one‑to‑one training and peer‑to‑peer coaching. (30%)
Develop and maintain JIC’s computational infrastructure; champion and maintain effective data management practices. (15%)
External and internal project acquisition and furthering bioinformatics capabilities at JIC. (10%)
As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post. (5%)

Education & Qualifications

Requirement Importance Undergraduate degree or equivalent in Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Computational Biology, or related discipline – Essential. PhD in Biology, Physics, Mathematics or a related discipline – Desirable.

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement Importance Broad range of expertise in the management and computational analysis of biological data – Essential. Ability to understand the key features of biological problems – Essential. General problem solving skills – Essential. Command line shell skills – Essential. Programming skills in an interpreted or compiled language – Essential. Background in statistics – Desirable.

Requirement Importance Experience in analysis of high‑throughput sequencing data – Essential. Experience with bioinformatics methods, techniques and tools – Essential. Working in an HPC environment with associated tools (e.g. SLURM scheduler) – Desirable. Experience with version control systems such as Git and GitHub – Desirable. Experience in plant genomics – Desirable. Experience with applying AI‑based methods to biological problems – Desirable.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement Importance Ability to work independently, managing individual projects through to completion – Essential. Ability to interact effectively with scientists to discuss techniques and data, and to present technical concepts clearly – Essential. A positive, supportive working style, with enjoyment in helping others succeed – Essential. Enthusiastic and self‑motivated – Essential. Excellent verbal and written communication skills – Essential. Good communication skills, both written and verbal – Essential. Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team, sharing knowledge and techniques and providing the ability to cover for others – Essential.

Additional Requirements

Requirement Importance Attention to detail – Essential. Promotes equality and values diversity – Essential. Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work – Essential. Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute – Essential. Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required – Essential.

Who We Are

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including: cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on [phone] or [e-mail].

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Computational and Systems Biology

The Department of Computational and Systems Biology conducts world‑leading research across a broad range of the biological sciences, with a special focus on spatial problems in plant and microbial research. Particular strengths of the department include mathematical and statistical modelling of the physical mechanisms underlying biological pattern formation, transport dynamics, epigenetic processes, size control, biomechanics and gene network dynamics. In addition, the department has strong bioinformatics that underpins the research of the institute through training, software development and statistical analysis. While much of the research is carried out in close collaboration with world‑leading experimental groups within the John Innes Centre, we also have strong international collaborations with experimentalists and theoreticians worldwide.

JIC Informatics is a Technology Platform delivering bioinformatics and scientific computing expertise to the John Innes Centre and the wider scientific community. We collaborate on research projects, support staff and students through hands‑on project work and individual training, and offer a bioinformatics training programme for scientists at all levels. Through this work, we aim to strengthen bioinformatics and data management practices across JIC and empower research groups to work independently.

Bioinformatician

Salary: £37,500 - £40,600 per annum depending on qualifications and experience

Contract: 36 months, full‑time

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK

Closing date: [Insert closing date]

Reference: 1006035

Are you a bioinformatician who has always found the most satisfaction in collaborations and side‑projects that support colleagues? Then this could be the right role for you.

We are seeking a bioinformatician to join the Informatics Platform at the John Innes Centre (JIC). This position is ideal for an early‑career researcher with experience in bioinformatics – for example, someone who has recently completed a PhD or postdoctoral position with a strong computational component. You will be proficient in at least one programming language and have a genuine passion for science.

The successful applicant will become part of the JIC scientific community and contribute to a range of cutting‑edge research projects. The role involves hands‑on project work, supporting and training staff and students in bioinformatics, and helping to manage and analyse the large datasets generated by our experiments.

We are looking for someone who enjoys interacting with colleagues and thrives in a collaborative, diverse working environment.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity‑led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long‑term goals for the game‑changing impact of our science globally.

Our employees enjoy access to state‑of‑the‑art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About the Informatics Platform:

JIC Informatics is a Technology Platform delivering bioinformatics and scientific computing expertise to the John Innes Centre and the wider scientific community. We collaborate on research projects, support staff and students through hands‑on project work and individual training, and offer a bioinformatics training programme for scientists at all levels. Through this work, we aim to strengthen bioinformatics and data management practices across JIC and empower research groups to work independently.

Additional information:

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant‑aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.