Salary Range: $74,618-$107,264/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
About the GSC:
Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC). Today’s Research. Tomorrow’s Medicine.
The GSC is a department of the BC Cancer Research Institute and a high-throughput genome sequencing facility. We are leaders in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics in pursuit of novel treatment strategies for cancers and other diseases.
Among the world’s first genome centres to be established within a cancer clinic, for more than two decades our scientists and innovators have been designing and deploying cutting-edge technologies to benefit health and advance clinical research.
Among the GSC’s most significant accomplishments are the first publication to demonstrate the use of whole-genome sequencing to inform cancer treatment planning, the first published sequence of the SARS coronavirus genome and major contributions to the first physical map of the human genome as part of the Human Genome Project.
By joining the GSC you will become part of an exceptional and diverse team of scientists, clinicians, experts and professionals operating at the leading edge of clinical research. We look for people who share our core values—science, timeliness, respect—to join us on our mission to use genome science for the betterment of health and society.
Summary:
Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) of the BC Cancer Research Institute is a state-of-the-art, large-scale, high-throughput, clinically accredited genomics and bioinformatics facility located in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the world.
As a Research Associate within the Centre for Clinical Genomics Informatics team at the GSC, you will play a pivotal role in advancing clinical bioinformatics capabilities by developing, validating, and optimizing workflows and pipelines to support cutting-edge genomic technologies. The Research Associate will report to the Team leader and is anchored within a team of exceptional computational scientists, programmers and clinical researchers, who collaborate directly on the development and maintenance of robust, cost efficient, and competitive clinical genomics pipelines.
This is an opportunity to work with highly motivated colleagues in a science-oriented, creative and dynamic environment. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits and significant career development opportunities.
This position is initially funded for two years.
Key Accountabilities:
• Developing clinical bioinformatics workflows for new projects that require quick turnarounds and/or reproducible results and, where relevant, containerizing them.
• Analyzing clinical sequencing data from technology development experiments in the lab, summarizing results and formally presenting findings in internal meetings and discussions, including at local, and national meetings.
• Supporting technological advances and providing recommendations to wet and dry lab production groups on new technology and workflow optimizations based on comparative analyses, often with custom bioinformatics tools and workflows.
• Facilitating the transfer of novel analysis pipelines and technologies into production, such as writing clinical validation documents, drafting Standard Operating Procedures, training production staff, and assisting with troubleshooting exercises.
• Training designated members of the clinical bioinformatics group in new or optimized analysis workflows. Writes or revises protocols accordingly.
• Identifies processes/procedures that can improve and optimize the clinical validation process.
• Reviews data to identify opportunities to offer new or improved assays.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities to publish in peer reviewed journals to contribute to the broader community.
• Performs other technical functions related to the Bioinformatics groups of the GSC.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer science, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Biology, Genomics, or related field.
• Proven expertise with Python and/or other similar high-level languages.
• Demonstrated ability in R or other similar statistical programming languages and in statistical analysis.
• Functional knowledge of distributed version control systems, such as Git.
• Comfortable working in a Linux environment, including experience with shell scripting and common command-line tools.
• Familiarity with pipeline tools (eg. Nextflow, singularity) and high-performance computing (slurm) are highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with software development lifecyle and appling CI/CD pipelines to streamline the development and deployment of reliable and effective bioinformatics tools and workflows.
• Demonstrated experience with next generation/ third generation sequencing technology with an in-depth understanding of standards and guidelines for validating clinical bioinformatics analysis pipelines using these technologies.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively with others in a team environment.
• Experience liaising with multiple stakeholders to support consensus goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet milestones, and efficiently organize work assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to write technical documents including validations and procedure manuals
• Demonstrated ability to accept responsibility and work independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey complex scientific ideas.
** Please note: Support for nomination with the BC Provincial Nominee Program is not a guarantee, entitlement, nor an employee benefit after receiving a full time job offer with PHSA **