Bioinformatics Support Specialist

National Research Council of Canada; Halifax; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Robust pension plan

Health and dental coverage

Disability and life insurance

Job summary

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) invites applications for a Bioinformatics Support Specialist in the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The role focuses on developing, implementing, and maintaining reproducible bioinformatics workflows to process high-throughput sequencing data across genomics, metagenomics, and metabarcoding projects.

Working under a Team Lead, you will support environmental genomics research, contribute to publications,

Qualifications

• Significant experience (3+ years) managing, processing, and analyzing NGS data.
• Significant experience developing reproducible bioinformatics workflows for DNA sequence data (genomic/metagenomics).
• Significant experience developing, implementing and maintaining complete RNA-Seq workflows.
• Experience using bioinformatics software for DNA/RNA sequence analysis in Linux/Unix.
• Experience programming/scripting for bioinformatics using Python, R, Bash, Perl, Java or C/C++.
• Experience with Git and HPC/cloud computing is an asset.
• Documenting bioinformatics workflows and training users is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide RNA-Seq data analysis support and interpretation.
• Analyze genomic, metagenomic, metabarcoding and other high-throughput sequencing data.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and document reproducible bioinformatics workflows.
• Maintain documentation of analyses and communicate results in reports or presentations.
• Prepare and contribute to scientific publications and technical reports.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners on research projects.
• Mentor researchers and trainees as appropriate.

Skills

NGS data analysis

RNA-Seq analysis

Linux/Unix

Python/R scripting

Git/version control

HPC/cloud computing

Education

M.Sc in Life Sciences + CS

B.Sc in Computer Science with biology

Tools

STAR aligner

DESeq2

Metagenomic tools

RNA-Seq workflows

Genomic databases

Linux HPC

Git

Job description

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Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Aquatic and Crop Resource Development

Classification:CS-2

Tenure:Continuing

Work arrangements:

• Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.

Discover the possible

The role

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada’s largest research and technology organization.

We are looking for a Bioinformatics Support Specialist to join the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Research Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is an opportunity to apply your bioinformatics expertise to meaningful research in environmental genomics, toxicogenomics, bioprospecting, and algal biotechnology, while working with multidisciplinary teams across government, academia, and industry. The incumbent would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

The successful candidate will develop, implement, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics workflows and computational tools to process, analyze, and interpret high-throughput sequencing data, including genomics, transcriptomics, metabarcoding, and metagenomics datasets.

Working under the direction of a Team Lead, the Bioinformatics Support Specialist will contribute to the development and validation of genomic platforms, including zebrafish transcriptomics models for toxicological risk assessment, and its relevance to human-specific outcomes. Their role will also support research that advances our understanding of biological responses to environmental change, pollutants, climate change, and other stressors in aquatic and marine ecosystems, with a particular focus on the analysis of microbial and algal communities.

The Bioinformatics Support Specialist will:

• Provide bioinformatics support for the analysis and interpretation of functional genomics data, with an emphasis on RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
• Provide bioinformatics support for the analysis of genomic, metagenomic, metabarcoding, and other high-throughput DNA sequencing datasets.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and document reproducible bioinformatics workflows and computational pipelines for omics data analysis.
• Maintain accurate documentation of analytical workflows, methods, and results, and communicate findings effectively through written reports and oral presentations.
• Prepare and contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and other knowledge dissemination activities.
• Conceive and initiate computational biology projects, contribute to grant and funding proposals, and collaborate with a broad range of internal and external partners.
• Contribute to ACRD's multidisciplinary research environment by providing technical expertise, supporting collaborative research projects, and mentoring researchers and trainees as appropriate.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

B.Sc. or M.Sc in Computer Science combined with extensive experience in biological applications or M.Sc. in Life Sciences combined with strong demonstrated computer science/bioinformatics skills.

• Significant* experience managing, processing, and analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data generated using Illumina and/or Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing platforms.
• Significant* experience developing, implementing, and maintaining reproducible bioinformatics workflows for DNA sequence (genomic and metagenomics), including quality control and processing, assembly, taxonomic classification and bioprospecting to identify novel genes, metabolic pathways, and bioactive compounds.
• Significant* experience developing, implementing and maintaining complete RNAseq workflow from sequencing data to downstream analysis.
• Experience** using bioinformatics software and tools for DNA/RNA sequence analysis and manipulation in Linux/Unix environments.
• Experience** programming and scripting for bioinformatics applications using one or more languages such as Python, R, Bash (Unix shell), Perl, Java, or C/C++.
• Experience** using version control systems (e.g., Git) and working in high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing environments is considered an asset.
• Experience** documenting bioinformatics workflows and providing technical support or training to users is considered an asset.

*Significant experience is defined as three (3) or more years of experience.
**Experience is defined as one (1) or more years of experience.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Advanced knowledge of the development and implementation and maintenance of reproducible genomic/transcriptomic/metagenomic bioinformatics workflows, including web-based tools, algorithms, pipelines, software solutions and database resources in the area of bioinformatics for data manipulation and analysis.
• Advanced understanding of Linux/Unix fundamentals and using command-line tools as applied to systems administration and bioinformatics software development in a distributed and heterogeneous Linux environment.
• Ability to download/manipulate raw sequence data (including quality control and processing), alignment/generation count matrices using STAR (or equivalent), statistical correction of count data (DESeq2 or equivalent) and generation of downstream input files for ontological analysis using web-based approaches, development of data analysis methods, identifying human orthologs of differentially expressed genes, and mapping to transcriptome atlases.
• Ability to process and analyze data, compose draft reports, protocols and standard operating procedures, and contribute to the preparation of research publications and client reports.
• Ability to analyze and discuss technical issues, troubleshoot and solve problems relating to application to bioinformatics.
• Ability to program and script for bioinformatics applications using one or more languages such as Python, R, Bash (Unix shell), Perl, Java, or C/C++. Ability to work in high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing environments is considered an asset.
• Research Technician/Technologist - Communication (Level 2)
• Research Technician/Technologist - Creative thinking (Level 3)
• Research Technician/Technologist - Initiative (Level 2)
• Research Technician/Technologist - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Research Technician/Technologist - Teamwork (Level 2)
• Research Technician/Technologist - Client focus (Level 2)

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Closing Date: 14 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time