McWilliams Lab, Faculty of Medicine University of Helsinki, FI

The University of Helsinki is a leading international university with a strong reputation in biomedical research. The McWilliams lab is driven to understand how mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis are regulated in a variety of physiological contexts. We now invite applications for a highly motivated Bioinformatician/Computational Biologist to join our team at the Faculty of Medicine. The position is for one year with the possibility of extension.

The position

You will liaise closely with experimental scientists on projects relating to the regulation of selective autophagy in health and disease. The ability to work well within a collaborative team is critical for this position. You will develop, standardise and deploy rigorous pipelines for contemporary (single cell) as well as conventional RNA-seq experiments. You will work with unique datasets derived from large-scale experiments associated with a diverse range of projects in physiology and pathology. Your pipelines will be critical for cell-type annotation, deconvolution and subsequent analysis, and integration with other OMICS datasets. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience based on the University guidelines. The full-time position can start immediately or upon mutual agreement. A six-month trial period will be applied.

Candidate specification

The ideal candidate holds postgraduate training MSc or PhD in a relevant field (e.g. bioinformatics), with previous experience in analysing next-generation sequencing data and expertise in related statistics. Solid skills in scripting/programming (preferably R, python, bash) and familiarity with Unix/Linux are essential prerequisites for this position. Sufficient understanding of biology is critical to facilitate a constructive interface and fluid dialogue with experimental biologists. Experience from groups working on cell biology, transcription and/or metabolism is considered a distinct advantage.

Applications should be written in English and submitted as a single PDF document containing a one-page cover letter and a CV with publications and contact information for three references. Please do not send or attach copies of transcripts/any other documents outside those requested.

Essential attributes

• Postgraduate training (MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline (bioinformatics, computer science, genetics, chemoinformatics). Solid knowledge of relevant statistics. Qualified applicants with equivalent industry/private sector experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Research experience in genomics/NGS analysis is desirable. Experience with contemporary genomics/differential gene expression approaches is advantageous. Demonstrated experience with proteomics and metabolomics is also considered a distinct advantage.
• Solid programming skills with experience in R, Python, Perl or Bash and experience in Unix/Linux-based environments, shell scripting. Modelling experience from complex datasets is highly desirable.
• A collegial team player with excellent communication and presentation skills in English. Good organisational skills, troubleshooting expertise and the ability to work effectively to tight deadlines are essential.
• Demonstrated evidence of expertise through publication in an internationally recognised, peer-reviewed journal.

Please apply as soon as possible or by 10.08.2020 via the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system (by clicking on "Apply for job"). Internal applicants (i.e., current employees of the University of Helsinki) must submit their applications through the SAP HR portal.

For more details on the position, please contact thomas.mcwilliams@helsinki.fi

About the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine promotes scientific research of a high standard and is responsible for providing research-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, psychology and logopedics, as well as for the English-language Master’s Programme in Translational Medicine. In addition to its teaching and research activities, the Faculty serves as a significant expert organisation in the healthcare sector and contributes to the discourse on ethics in the field. In terms of research, the Faculty aims for a place among the best medical faculties in the world, while consolidating and strengthening its status as a top-level institution of medical education.

Together with the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) and the Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, constitutes the Academic Medical Center Helsinki (AMCH). This medical center has been very successful in international comparisons, ranking among the top 10 medical campuses in Europe and among the top 50 globally.

Due date

10.08.2020 23:59 EEST