Bioinformatician

We are seeking a talented and motivated Bioinformatician to join our research group in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King's College London. You will play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of common and rare bone and joint diseases, including the common arthopathy ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases. Supervised by Professor Matthew Brown (Medical and Molecular Genetics) and working closely with Professor Emma Duncan (Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology), you will harness advanced bioinformatics approaches to decode the genetic underpinnings of these conditions. This will include identification of new disease-associated loci, investigation of functional mechanisms of disease, research into polygenic risk scores (including clinical implementation), and identification of novel therapeutic interventions and personalised treatment strategies. You will collaborate with our global network of researchers and contribute to high-impact publications and grant applications. Hybrid working is possible, with the postholder expected to work on site approximately 2 days per week. This is a full-time post and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 1 year. Research staff at King's are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the for more information., The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension. We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination. When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King's guidance. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible. Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant's own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found . We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day. We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application. To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' ' pages. Interviews are due to be held following shortlisting. The interview date will be communicated to shortlisted candidates.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience,

• PhD qualified in bioinformatics with a focus on genetic studies of common and/or rare human diseases.
• Proficiency in programming languages used in bioinformatics, such as Python and/or R, with the ability to develop and implement computational solutions for genetic data analysis
• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with bioinformatics tools and databases relevant to genetic research, including tools for gene mapping, functional genomics analysis, and polygenic risk score studies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex genetic concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, and a proven ability to contribute to scientific publications
• Ability to adapt to evolving research priorities and methodologies, and demonstrated openness to incorporating new technologies and approaches
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to plan, execute, and deliver research objectives effectively within specified timelines, Track record of successful collaboration in research projects, ideally in interdisciplinary teams working with researchers, clinicians, and global collaborators
• Experience translating genetic data into actionable insights with potential clinical applications, including understanding the implications of genetic findings for therapeutic development
• Previous experience with laboratory-based functional genomics methodologies, demonstrating practical understanding of integrating wet-lab techniques with computational analyses
  
  The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King's College London is at the forefront of human genetics research. We are part of the School of Basic and Medical Biosciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine at King's College London. This post is based in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and supervised by Professor Matthew Brown, working in close collaboration with Professor Emma Duncan of the Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology. Their collaborative research group focuses on unlocking the genetic basis of common and rare bone and joint diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis and related conditions. We have access to state-of-the-art facilities and are embedded within a global network of collaborators., At King's, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.
  
  Grade and Salary : £46,189 - £51,174 per annum inclusive of London Weighting Allowance Job ID : 157045