Research Fellow in Bioinformatics CM)

The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU) at the University of Southampton is offering a compelling opportunity for an Early Career Bioinformatician to join their esteemed team. As a UKCRC registered CTU, the SCTU is at the forefront of clinical research, with significant core funding from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR). This role presents a unique chance to contribute to a dynamic portfolio of trials, predominantly focused on cancer research but also encompassing non-cancer studies across the full spectrum of clinical practice.

This position is ideal for individuals with a recent PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a closely related field, or those nearing completion. It's a stepping stone into a high-impact career, offering the chance to apply and advance your computational skills within a real-world clinical research environment.

• Cutting-Edge Research: Be an integral part of developing and implementing bioinformatics workflows that directly support innovative clinical trials, with a specific focus on 'omics data analysis.
• Collaborative Environment: Work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians, statisticians, data managers, and researchers from leading institutions like the Southampton Experimental Cancer Research Centre and University Hospital Southampton.
• Skill Development: Gain hands-on experience in a broad range of advanced statistical, machine learning, and AI techniques for analyzing complex biological and clinical data. You will be instrumental in developing biomarkers and predictive models.
• Reproducibility and FAIR Data: Play a key role in ensuring data and workflow reproducibility and shareability, aligning with modern 'data lake to discovery' principles and FAIR data standards.
• Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange: Engage in knowledge sharing with the extensive CRUK network and explore potential collaborations with industry, fostering valuable professional connections.
• Continuous Professional Development: The role encourages and supports continuous learning, allowing you to explore new tools and methodologies relevant to clinical trial applications.
• Career Progression: This role offers a clear path for growth, with the title of Research Fellow awarded upon PhD completion.

• Academic Foundation: A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant computational or biological science field is essential.
• Programming Proficiency: Demonstrable experience in programming with R is a core requirement.
• Statistical Understanding: A strong grasp of statistical analysis methods is crucial for success in this role.
• Collaborative Spirit: The ability to work effectively in a team and communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders is paramount. A proactive and positive attitude towards professional growth will be highly valued.
• Technical Aptitude: While not essential, experience with bioinformatics pipelines (e.g., Snakemake, Nextflow), High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments, machine learning, and an interest in Large Language Models (LLMs) will significantly enhance your candidacy.
• Fixed-Term Contract: The position is offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis for 2 years initially, with potential for renewal linked to CTU core funding cycles.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious Early Career Bioinformatician looking to make a tangible impact on the future of clinical research and shape their career trajectory within a leading academic institution.