The Bioinformatics Research Officer will provide advanced technical and analytical support for the computational components of the Combating Antimalarial Resistance: An AI-Driven Approach to Identify and Prioritize Key Parasite Mutations (AIMaR) project.
This position is ideally suited for a candidate who possesses strong bioinformatics skills combined with deep knowledge of malaria biology and Plasmodium falciparum. The successful candidate will leverage computational approaches to address critical malaria research questions, particularly those related to antimalarial drug resistance and immune evasion mechanisms. This role involves implementing bioinformatics pipelines, conducting genomic analyses, supporting AI model implementation, and managing computational workflows on HPC systems. The position offers substantial opportunity for skill development, co-authorship on publications, and hands-on experience with advanced computational methods including EVE and AlphaFold 3.
Implement and execute standardized pipelines for preprocessing P. falciparum genomic data
Conduct quality control of raw sequence data using FastQC, Trimmomatic, and related tools
Perform sequence alignment using BWA-MEM and variant calling using established protocols
Apply filtering criteria to ensure high-quality variant datasets (depth, quality scores, mapping quality)
Harmonize metadata across multiple datasets, including clinical and epidemiological variables
Conduct GWAS analysis
Generate comprehensive QC reports documenting data processing steps and outcomes
Support validation of EVE predictions against experimentally confirmed variations, interpreting results in the context of parasite biology
Troubleshoot pipeline failures and optimize computational workflows for efficiency
Maintain version control and documentation for all analysis scripts
Apply understanding of P. falciparum biology to inform quality control decisions and identify biologically relevant variants
Participate in regular project meetings and present analytical findings with clear connections to malaria biology
Collaborate with structural biologists and laboratory scientists, bridging computational and wet-lab perspectives
Contribute to manuscript preparation, including methods sections, results interpretation, and supplementary materials
Assist in preparing figures and tables for publications and presentations
Support training activities for junior staff and research assistants
Document technical procedures that will be included in the project report.
Translate complex bioinformatics results into insights accessible to malaria researchers and public health practitioners
Qualifications:
Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, or a related field
Strong academic record with demonstrated research productivity in malaria-related bioinformatics
Essential Technical Skills and Experience:
Advanced proficiency in Linux/Unix, Python and/or R for bioinformatics analysis
Solid experience with genomic data analysis pipelines (sequence alignment, variant calling, quality control)
Experience with HPC systems, job schedulers (SLURM, PBS), and parallel computing
Deep understanding of Plasmodium falciparum biology, life cycle, and pathogenesis
Knowledge of antimalarial drug resistance mechanisms and molecular markers
Knowledge of immune evasion mechanisms in P. falciparum
Personal Attributes:
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with biological insight
High attention to detail and commitment to data quality
Self-motivated with ability to work independently
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Good written and oral communication skills, with ability to explain computational results to malaria biologists
Collaborative team player who values multidisciplinary perspectives and can bridge computational and biological domains
Adaptability and willingness to learn new methods and tools
Integrity and adherence to research ethics and data security practices
The Bioinformatics Research Officer will provide advanced technical and analytical support for the computational components of the Combating Antimalarial Resistance: An AI-Driven Approach to Identify and Prioritize Key Parasite Mutations (AIMaR) project.
This position is ideally suited for a candidate who possesses strong bioinformatics skills combined with deep knowledge of malaria biology and Plasmodium falciparum. The successful candidate will leverage computational approaches to address critical malaria research questions, particularly those related to antimalarial drug resistance and immune evasion mechanisms. This role involves implementing bioinformatics pipelines, conducting genomic analyses, supporting AI model implementation, and managing computational workflows on HPC systems. The position offers substantial opportunity for skill development, co-authorship on publications, and hands-on experience with advanced computational methods including EVE and AlphaFold 3.
The Graduate Trainee shall support the Library/KM section, which falls under the Information Services department. The major role under the Library is information processing (indexing, abstracting, cataloguing, classification, managing electronic libraries, knowledge codification, preservation, and sharing. Each of these roles directly serves the needs of end users.