Closing date: 9/2/23, 5pm
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term: until April, 2024
We are looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh to work on secondment with Food Standards Scotland on the ‘PATH-SAFE’ UK-wide bacterial zoonotic pathogen surveillance programme.
The Opportunity:
We are seeking a scientist with bioinformatics expertise to join a UK pathogen and AMR surveillance programme supported by the UK Treasury (PATH-SAFE). Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is part of the programme and will fund this post, which will be based at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh with the aim of the postholder being partly seconded into FSS to contribute to project management as well as sequence and data analysis. The work will focus on the ‘one health’ epidemiology of Escerhichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium (STm) in Scotland, analysing whole genome sequencing (WGS) data generated from previously funded projects as well as isolates from on-going water, food and health surveillance. We are looking for an individual who is interested in applying their bioinformatics skills to analyse WGS data for public health benefit - applying phylogenetics and statistical methods, including machine learning, to predict the source and threat of isolates based on their genome sequence. The research will build on the extensive pathogen sequencing expertise in Prof. Gally’s group at the Roslin Institute and will require a post-holder with strong bioinformatics skills, with the ability to apply powerful predictive tools to address defined questions relating to the attribution and transmission of E. coli and STm in Scotland. Effective project management and communication skills will also be essential as the candidate will be required to take on a key role representing FSS at the main PATH-SAFE programme meetings, and engage with various stakeholder groups across the country to pull together isolate and data contributions which ensure species diversity is sampled. The post is an excellent opportunity to really move basic WGS research into an applied public health arena and work between the basic science at the Roslin Institute and FSS’s strategy for understanding and mitigating foodborne illness in Scotland.
This is an exciting and unique Post-Doctoral post, for which we are hoping to attract candidates who are keen to apply their science skills in a wider policy context. We would be delighted to explain the post in more detail by phone/on-line as required beyond the further particulars provided. The post is initially funded until April 2024.
Your skills and attributes for success:
- Bioinformatician with experience of analysis of genome sequence data
- Organised to work with multiple project partners and return monthly update reports
- A team player to assist with other projects as they evolve in the group
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