Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges.
We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist/Bioinformatician, who has experience of handling large multiomic datasets, to lead some key analyses, support and mentor our more junior scientists, and curate and maintain our data repository for 12 months, to cover for a maternity leave.
About the Role:
The work includes developing, undertaking and scaling pilot analyses, developing new pipelines and tools, and optimising existing pipelines used within the group.
What you will be doing:
- Designing analytical pipelines and support and collaborate with other team members to automate and scale up the existing pipelines
- Assisting with analysis, write up and presentation of data, contributing to publications.
- Further development of good data management practices and systems within the team.
- Developing, documenting, populating, and maintaining Team152 databases to store genetic, genomic and phenotypic data in line with best practices in data governance.
- Preparing extracts of data for analysis and keeping records of different data releases.
- Interacting with Human Genetics Research Administrators and DNA Pipelines team to identify which samples should be prioritized for sequencing, and their status in the sequencing pipeline.
- Interacting with team members and Human Genetics Informatics team to effectively manage and archive the data, as well as managing storage capacity.
- Ingesting and archiving data generated outside of the Sanger Institute that can be used to achieve the team's research goals.
About You:
You will develop and establish best-practices for analysing genetic (WGS, WES and genotyping array data), genomics (RNAseq and single cell expression data, spatial transcriptomics data) and phenotypic data for thousands of participants in collaboration with the team. The work includes designing, undertaking and scaling pilot analysis; as well as implementing the automatization of existing pipelines in collaboration with junior researchers. All of these analyses will be carried out in a high-performance computing environment.
You will be also familiar with FAIR principles and be responsible for ensuring that our data is uploaded to appropriate repositories, ensure data security, and handle queries from external users of our data. Similarly, you will drive the ascertainment of external datasets and ensure that these are documented and aligned appropriately to internal datasets.
Further, you will also play a role in the writing of scientific research papers. You will have a collaborative approach to research and take a full and active role in discussions, contributing both with ideas and expertise, and mentor our more junior scientists, as necessary.
Essential Skills:
- A degree or equivalent experience in one of the following subjects: Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Life Sciences
- Previous experience handling large-scale genetic/genomic data
- Experience working with relational databases (e.g. MySQL) and good knowledge of programming languages to manipulate large datasets (Python, R)
- Experience working in Unix in a high performing computing environment
- Experience using version control platforms (e.g. GitHub)
- Experience creating large scale data analysis pipelines, preferably using NextFlow
- Good organisational skills and ability to judge priorities
- Ability to work accurately, with attention to detail
- Ability to communicate effectively with other team members and external collaborators
- Be an inclusive team player with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
About Us:
The Genomics of Inflammation and Immunity Group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, led by Dr. Carl Anderson, is a diverse and multi-disciplinary team of statisticians, geneticists, immunologists, computer scientists and clinicians who work together to understand the genetics and genomics of immune-mediated disease (www.andersonlab.info).
You will play a central role in a substantial research programme using high-throughput genetics and genomics to further our biological understanding of immune-mediated diseases and, ultimately, identify new drug targets for these debilitating diseases. The team has complex multiomics and phenotypic data on tens of thousands of patients and healthy individuals, and we are looking to recruit a data scientist to lead some key analyses, develop new tools, optimise and automate existing pipelines, and lead the integration of all genetic and phenotypic data in the group.
Other Information:
Application Process:
Please apply with your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the skills set out above and in the grade 2 Role Profile, why the role appeals to you and what value/experience you can bring to it, addressing the essential technical and behavioual skills.
Salary per annum: £44,905 - £52,000 (dependent upon skills and experience)
Closing date: 19th August 2025
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That's why we're committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
