CRUK Genomics Scientist - Cancer & Genomic Sciences

Position Details

Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £30,942 to £40,322 with potential progression once in post to £42,792 a year.

Grade 7

Full Time / Fixed Term Contract to 31 March 2022

Closing date 5 January 2021 (The vacancy may close earlier if substantial numbers of applications are received)

Job Summary

The Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Birmingham Centre is funded from 1st April 2017 for 5 years alongside the Birmingham Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC). Its explicit aim is to catalyse translationally aligned fundamental discovery science in oncology and novel therapeutic developments originating from this research, contributing to CRUK's strategic target of increasing cancer survival rates from 50% to 75% within the next 10 years. The CRUK Birmingham Centre focuses on increasing understanding of oncogenesis and tumour immunobiology, providing the scientific basis for novel targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and stratification approaches. CRUK Birmingham Centre funding (~£4. 5M over 5 years) builds strategically on a total of ~ £25M of local funding per year in the cancer field.

The CRUK Birmingham Centre brings together groupings within the College of Medical & Dental Sciences centred around the research themes of Cancer Genomics, Virology and Immunology. As a consequence of this, expertise in the development of pre-clinical molecular genomics, specifically next generation sequencing is required to further the aims of the centre.

The CRUK Birmingham Centre Translational Genomics Scientific Officer will capitalise on the University of Birmingham's recently large strategic investment in next generation sequencing facilities, with the College of Medical and Dental Sciences supported by infrastructure awards from the Medical Research Council and the Wolfson Foundation. A state of the art core facility (the Genomic Medicine Facility) within the Institute of Biomedical Research complex provides access to 2x HiSeq 2500, 2xNextSeq 500, 3xMiSeq, a Fluidigm C1, Oxford Nanopore PromethIon and 10X Genomics Chromium instrumentation. Instruments are run on an instrument access model centrally with library preparation and sample preparation carried out within each core. A Hamilton Robotics NGS Star liquid handling platform and Illumina NeoPrep are available for library preparation. In addition, there is access to a cloud based HPC facility on site (Bear CLOUD) as well as a dedicated research data network. There are also dedicated cell culture facilities, a dedicated microscopy facility as well as extensive experience across the centre in CRISPR/Cas9 experimental design and delivery for cancer genetics projects.

The Translational Genomics Scientific Officer will be a core infrastructure post within the CRUK Birmingham Centre, designed to provide scientific support to Centre groups in next generation sequencing assays, with a focus on both DNA & RNA sequencing; and on genome-editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. There may also be opportunities for personal research projects based around these fields as the post will be based both in the Genomic Medicine Facility at the University of Birmingham and will be aligned to the Beggs group within the CRUK Centre, whose research focusses on many of the critical techniques involved. Strategic oversight and direction for the post will be provided by the CRUK Centre Management Board.

The post holder will be part of the Genomics Medicine Facility, and will take responsibility for developing the application and expansion of prioritised genomic methodologies (eg NGS sequencing, genome editing) within the CRUK Birmingham Centre, and will work alongside Prof Andrew Beggs (Scientific Director, CMDS Genomic Medicine Facility), the Centre leads (Prof Willcox, Scientific Director, Prof Middleton, Clinical Director), and the Centre Management Grouping to prioritise and plan work in this area. In addition, the post-holder will maintain close links with the recently funded ECMC via Prof Beggs, who is an ECMC theme lead. He/she will report to the Scientific Director of the GMF, and to the CRUK Management Grouping, and is expected to interact with other staff working within the Centre Infrastructure Hub, with local researchers, and clinicians. Particularly close links will be maintained with the Research Theme Leads for Genomics, Immunology and Virology, and with relevant clinical academic leads.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below:

• Coordinate and carry out day to day management for library preparation and sequencing projects within the CRUK Centre
• Process samples and give advice as needed on technical aspects of next generation sequencing and library preparation, with a focus on single cell genomics and RNA sequencing
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/Institute research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism at a minimum of 2:1 and normally, a PhD (or near to completion) in a relevant biological field
• Proven experience in Illumina next generation sequencing instrument use including troubleshooting
• Experience of library preparation techniques
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Andrew Beggs, email: A.Beggs@bham.ac.uk

We value diversity at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community

Valuing excellence; sustaining investment