Research Technician LMS 2521

View Vacancy -- Research Technician LMS 2521

Open Date

04/11/2024, 09:20

Close Date

24/11/2024, 23:55

Research Institute

MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum salary criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Research Institute / Unit Information

The LMS is a world-class research laboratory where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Funded by the MRC as part of UK Research and Innovation , the LMS has a collaborative working culture and new state-of-the-art building based in the heart of West London in the Hammersmith Hospital Campus (W12).

The LMS aims to deliver transdisciplinary team science, in synergistic interaction with Imperial College and the wider national research environment.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

Band

MRC - 5

Location

London

Salary

£29,808 - £31,671 plus London allowances (£3,913 & £1,472) per annum

Contract Type

Fixed Term

Job Type

Science

Full Time / Part Time

Full Time

Contract Length

2 years

Job Description

Overall Purpose:

A new opportunity has arisen for a Research Technician in the Cardiovascular Genomics and Precision Medicine group headed by Prof. James Ware.

Main duties / key responsibilities:

• Assist in managing, curating, and analyzing our extensive datasets, including targeted, whole-exome (WES), and whole genome (WGS) data, ensuring quality control and compliance with data governance
• Support the management of data storage, integrity, and access
• Help develop and implement pipelines for variant calling across various datasets
• Ensure the validity and reliability of data and methods
• Maintain accurate and complete records of analysis projects
• Identify and develop suitable techniques for the analysis and visualization of data, and assist in building and maintaining the associated computational resources (software packages, databases, or web-based analysis and visualization tools)
• Assist in maintaining group resources, including web tools and pages
• Support research led by other group members by providing advice and guidance on project design and data analysis
• Contribute to publishing data and software tools, ensuring reproducibility
• Participate actively in the group's academic activities, including group meetings, journal clubs, training, and organizational aspects
• Engage in the academic activities of the LMS and the NHLI, including journal clubs and seminar presentations

The appointee will:

• Conduct research as part of the group's core program
• Take an active part in the academic activities of the Group including group meetings, group journal clubs, training and organisational aspects

This is an MRC funded and laboratory-based position to support other scientists in early or changed career training and to help establish them as successful research scientists in their chosen field. We offer a highly attractive benefits package including competitive salary and excellent holiday entitlement.

Working relationships:

The post-holder will report directly to James Ware with dotted line management responsibilities under Pantazis Theotokis. The post-holder will also work closely with all members of Research Technician in the Cardiovascular Genomics and Precision Medicine group.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

• BSc (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or another relevant discipline

Desirable:

• MSc or MRes in Bioinformatics or a related discipline

Previous work experience required (will be assessed from application form and at interview) :

Essential:

• Experience in computational biology / bioinformatics
• Experience planning and completing research projects
• Basic understanding of human genetics
• Experience in the analysis of human next-generation sequencing data, including development of alignment, variant calling, and variant annotation pipelines, and downstream analyses

Desirable:

• Background in cardiovascular biology
• Evidence of proficiency in a general programming language
• Experience and proficiency in R
• Previous experience handling large datasets
• Familiarity with HPC environments, Linux, Docker, and GitHub

Knowledge and experience ( will be assessed from application form and at interview) :

Essential:

• Knowledge and understanding of basic bioinformatic tools
• Keen interest in developing new skills in computational biology and genomics
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques and statistical methods
• Good written communication skills in English

Desirable:

• Knowledge of statistical methods in molecular biology

Personal skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at interview) :

Essential:

• Good verbal communication skills in English
• High level of motivation and drive
• Evidence of ability to organise and conduct complex research projects
• Ability to work effectively with researchers from different fields (computer scientists to experimental biologists) ranging from postgraduate students to professorial level
• Ability to work independently, organizing own work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work as part of a team, and to be open-minded and cooperative
• Creative approach to problem-solving
• Ability and eagerness to learn new concepts and acquire new skills in biology and computing, and to seek novel and creative solutions to scientific problems
• Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
• Attention to detail
• Discipline and regard for confidentiality and security
• Flexible attitude towards work

Further Information

Applicants should submit a CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a covering letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Please quote reference number LMS 2521.

Applications without a supporting covering letter will not be considered.

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Location: London, GB

Posted Date: 11/20/2024