- Location: EMBL Heidelberg
- Staff category: Staff Member - Science, research and training
- Contract duration: 3 years
- Grading: 4 or 5, depending on individual qualifications and experience
- Closing date: 31 January 2021
- Reference number: HD01886
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientist to join the research group of Peer Bork within the Structural and Computational Biology Unit to help develop standards and ensure interoperability of tools in the field of microbiomics. Our bioinformatics research group works on a wide range of research topics with a current focus on microbial analysis in ecosystems like the human gut or the ocean. We are involved in various national and international projects and also engage in the development, improvement and implementation of standards for microbiome data and metadata. Current relevant consortia include the German Human Genome-Phenome Archive (GHGA, https://ghga.dkfz.de/) and the International Human Microbiome Coordination and Support Action (IHMCSA).
Your role
Your role will be to contribute to the drafting of standards within the projects mentioned above. To this end, you will work with producers of microbiome data to identify obstacles and challenges to data sharing, with consumers of such data to identify their needs and encountered problems, and with existing repositories of microbiome data. You will be responsible for organising workshops that bring together stakeholders from data generation and data analysis. You will incorporate all the information to develop standard operating procedures (SOP) for standards on clinical (meta)data, to be adopted in the design of clinical trials, minimal data type standards and requirements for interoperability (e.g., data formats), and on criteria for defining microbial model organisms and in vitro communities.
You have
- A university degree in Bioinformatics, Biology, Medical Informatics or a related field; a doctorate is a plus
- Substantial experience in working with large-scale human microbiome data
- Social and organizational skills and a high motivation to interact and discuss with stakeholders and key players in the fields of experimental, computational, and clinical microbiome research
- Familiarity with office suites and online collaboration tools
- Ability to work both independently and in a team at the interface between life sciences and informatics
- Willingness to learn new skills as projects require
- Good communication, interpersonal and English language skills
You might also have
- Experience with generating or curating human microbiome data and metadata
- Experience in community development and organising workshops or conference sessions
- Experience in working with public ontologies, mapping between resources, and data analysis
- Software development skills to be able to optimise interoperability of tools
- Familiarity with clinical research
Why join us
Why not! Well, EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family friendly working environment. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme, medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial support for relocation and installation, including your family and the availability of an excellent child care facility on campus.
What else do I need to know
We are Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with more than 1600 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome. Our mission is to offer vital services in training scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and actively engage in technology transfer activities, and to integrate European life science research. Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.