Bioinformatician

King's College London; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

King’s College London is seeking a talented Bioinformatician to join the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. You will decode genetic underpinnings of bone and joint diseases, identify disease loci, and explore polygenic risk scores, collaborating with Prof. Brown and Prof.

Duncan. Hybrid work is possible; on-site ~2 days per week. You will contribute to high-impact publications and grant applications while advancing personalised treatment strategies in a leading genetics research

Qualifications

• PhD qualified in bioinformatics with a focus on genetic studies of human diseases.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R for computational analysis of genetic data.
• Hands-on experience with bioinformatics tools and databases for genetic research.
• Ability to contribute to scientific publications via written and verbal communication.
• Adaptability to evolving research priorities and new technologies.
• Strong organisational and project management skills to deliver objectives on time.

Responsibilities

• Advance understanding of bone and joint diseases through advanced bioinformatics.
• Identify disease-associated loci and investigate functional mechanisms.
• Research polygenic risk scores and clinical implementation aspects.
• Collaborate with a global network of researchers and contribute to publications and grants.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics tools

Communication skills

Project management

Education

PhD in bioinformatics

Tools

Gene mapping tools

Functional genomics databases

Job description

Bioinformatician Department : Medical & Molecular Genetics

The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King’s College London is at the forefront of human genetics research.

We are part of the School of Basic and Medical Biosciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine at King’s College London.

This post is based in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and supervised by Professor Matthew Brown, working in close collaboration with Professor Emma Duncan of the Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology.

Their collaborative research group focuses on unlocking the genetic basis of common and rare bone and joint diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis and related conditions.

We have access to state-of-the-art facilities and are embedded within a global network of collaborators.

About the role

We are seeking a talented and motivated Bioinformatician to join our research group in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King’s College London.

You will play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of common and rare bone and joint diseases, including the common arthopathy ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.

Supervised by Professor Matthew Brown (Medical and Molecular Genetics) and working closely with Professor Emma Duncan (Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology), you will harness advanced bioinformatics approaches to decode the genetic underpinnings of these conditions.

This will include identification of new disease-associated loci, investigation of functional mechanisms of disease, research into polygenic risk scores (including clinical implementation), and identification of novel therapeutic interventions and personalised treatment strategies.

You will collaborate with our global network of researchers and contribute to high-impact publications and grant applications.

Hybrid working is possible, with the postholder expected to work on site approximately 2 days per week.

This is a full-time post and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 1 year.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development.

This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7.

Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience.

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in bioinformatics with a focus on genetic studies of common and/or rare human diseases.
• Proficiency in programming languages used in bioinformatics, such as Python and/or R, with the ability to develop and implement computational solutions for genetic data analysis.
• In-depth knowledge and hands‑on experience with bioinformatics tools and databases relevant to genetic research, including tools for gene mapping, functional genomics analysis, and polygenic risk score studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex genetic concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, and a proven ability to contribute to scientific publications.
• Ability to adapt to evolving research priorities and methodologies, and demonstrated openness to incorporating new technologies and approaches.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to plan, execute, and deliver research objectives effectively within specified timelines.

Desirable criteria

• Track record of successful collaboration in research projects, ideally in interdisciplinary teams working with researchers, clinicians, and global collaborators.
• Experience translating genetic data into actionable insights with potential clinical applications, including understanding the implications of genetic findings for therapeutic development.
• Previous experience with laboratory-based functional genomics methodologies, demonstrating practical understanding of integrating wet‑lab techniques with computational analyses.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page.

This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description.

If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work.

Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses.

However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience.

AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment.

Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive.

While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our 'How we Recruit' pages.

Interviews are due to be held following shortlisting.

Grade and Salary

Grade and Salary : £46,189

• £51,174 per annum inclusive of London Weighting Allowance
  Job ID : 157045
  Post Date : 02-Sep-2026
  Close Date : 23-Sep-2026
  Contact Person : Professor Matthew Brown
  Contact Details :