Bioinformatician

Job summary

Job Title � Bioinformatician

Profession- Bioinformatics

Directorate � Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories

Full Time equivalent - hours

No of Roles � 1

Contract Type � Permanent

Location � Colindale / Hybrid

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata (averaged over a month), working at Colindale. Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

Working Pattern � Full Time / Part Time / Flexible Working / Hybrid Working / Job Share

Grade & Salary � Grade SEO. Inner London � �42,716-�48,068 per annum

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C�s are found .

Closing Date � 14/07/2024. 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

Interview Date � 31/07/2024 Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Job description

The appointee will be responsible for supporting scientists throughout the Virus Reference Department (VRD) in the application of bioinformatics and genomics. Maintenance and development of molecular sequence databases and web interfaces for storage and analysis of viral sequence data will be a key activity, including in support of the World Health Organization�s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network. The appointee will be expected to develop and maintain these web resources and work closely with colleagues within VRD and across the WHO laboratory network. The increasing use of Illumina and Nanopore sequencing technologies within VRD also requires the initiation of both database and analysis platforms for a wide range of viral pathogens, including Influenza Virus, HIV, Hepatitis A-E Viruses, Polio Virus and others. The appointee will also be required to develop analytical processes that inform clinical activities such as viral drug resistance determination and public health activities such as inferring virus transmission networks.

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Communication and key working relationships

Internal

External

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Job Overview

You will work in the Virus Reference Department (VRD) located in Colindale, London, which is part of Reference Services within the Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories directorate of UKHSA�s Science Group. Microbiology reference laboratories undertake complex and highly skilled techniques which often require nationally or internationally unique capabilities or facilities. Reference laboratories are required to provide authoritative, final and validated analysis for complex clinical or food microbiological problems and be innovative in driving microbiological methodology developments and standards. They have a key role in provision of expert advice to government and other national and international agencies, risk assessment for new and emerging microbiological threats and play an important role in teaching and training organism-specific and subject matter expertise to all grades of professional medical, nursing, scientific and technical staff. Design of national microbiological surveillance programmes and sampling strategies and outbreak detection and control are part of the day-to-day work of reference laboratories.

The VRD comprises of several units, most of which apply bioinformatics and genomics to provide assays for the molecular detection of viruses of public health importance. VRD�s work embraces both reference functions supporting the NHS and public health activity and has particular expertise in the detection and characterisation of sexually transmitted and blood borne viral pathogens and enteric and respiratory viruses. It hosts a Global Specialised Laboratory within the World Health Organisation�s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, that provides an online global genomic surveillance platform to assist in monitoring of the WHO�s Measles and Rubella Virus elimination programmes.

Your role will be to provide bioinformatics support, alongside the Senior Bioinformatician, to scientists throughout VRD and so the work will encompass a diverse group of pathogens in various healthcare contexts. You will help to grow the expertise in sequence analysis throughout the VRD units by working in close collaboration with growing numbers of bioinformatics-focused microbiologists. Surveillance sequence data are continuously deposited in the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network�s online surveillance platform. Your role will include maintenance and further development of those databases and websites, and to support the WHO network scientists around the world who submit and analyse data on the platform. You will help to design, implement and validate bioinformatics analytical pipelines to generate high quality genome sequence using the latest technologies, contributing of the growing array of whole genome sequence assays provided by the VRD.

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Main Duties of the Job

BIOINFORMATICS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Other

Professional development

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

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We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

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Person specification

Essential Criteria:

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Desirable Criteria

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Benefits