Bioinformatician

University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research university in Edinburgh is seeking a Bioinformatician to study cellular responses to injury using advanced technologies. The role involves computational identification and analysis of pathways related to chronic kidney disease, requiring a PhD in a relevant field and expertise in data analysis and statistical programming. Flexible working arrangements are encouraged.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Competitive pension schemes

Staff discounts

Family-friendly initiatives

Qualifications

• PhD, or near completion, in Mathematics, Physics, Computational Science, Genomics, Genetics, or similar.
• Proficient in analyzing NGS sequencing data (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq).
• Experience with at least one statistical package and scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification and analysis of pathways using spatial transcriptomic analysis.
• Perform single-cell resolution analysis of renal cell populations.

Skills

Single cell transcriptome data analysis

NGS sequencing data analysis

Statistical analysis using R/Python

Experience in high-throughput biological datasets

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Linux/Bash

R

Job description

Overview

Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum (pro rata if part time)

Clinical Sciences / Institute for Regeneration and Repair / Centre for Inflammation Research

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed Term: 3 years

We are looking for a Bioinformatician to study cellular responses to injury and ageing using integrated single-cell, spatial and proteomic technologies. The post will be based in the Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh with Professor David Ferenbach.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The Opportunity

This fellowship forms part of an MRC-funded Senior Clinical Fellowship, based in the Institute for Regeneration and Repair - home to over 1000 research staff and students. Its focus is on the identification of novel pathways linking senescent epithelia to tissue fibrosis in human chronic kidney disease. The post holder will lead the computational identification and analysis of these pathways using spatial transcriptomic analysis of human kidney biopsies, and single-cell resolution analysis of renal cell populations obtained ex vivo / in vitro. Further work will explore the potential for these pathways to be targeted in vivo to promote senescent cell clearance and prevent senescent cell accumulation with ageing and tissue injury.

Your skills and attributes for success

• A PhD, or near completion, in Mathematics, Physics, Computational Science, Genomics, Genetics, Computational Biology (or similar), and a passion for problem solving.
• Understanding of single cell transcriptome and/or genome data analysis.
• Proficiency in analysing NGS sequencing data and (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, Chip-seq, single cell).
• An understanding, experience and published outcomes from analysing and interpreting large datasets using at least one statistical package (e.g. R/SPLUS, SAS) and proficiency with scripting languages (R/Python) and Linux/Bash
• Experience in the analysis of high-throughput biological datasets.

Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens new browser tab).

As part of this application, you are required to submit a document of no more than one page detailing how you meet each of the essential criteria as outlined on the job description.

As a valued member of our team you can expect

• A competitive salary
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits

Equality and inclusion

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion. The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award and is a member of the Race Equality Charter and Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on factors specific to the successful applicant. Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, sponsorship may be dependant on several factors and the Home Office criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 24 September 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone. Interviews are anticipated to be held within 2-3 weeks of the advert closing date.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we address tomorrow's greatest challenges with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team

The Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR; Director, Professor David Dockrell) leverages interdisciplinary research to characterise mechanisms of acute and chronic inflammation, with the aim of promoting health at the molecular level and preventing tissue injury. The CIR has broad interest across multiple tissues and supports translation through diagnostics and imaging modalities, with proximity to patient groups at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.

IRR is located on the BioQuarter Campus, Edinburgh.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/inflammation-research