Translational Research Bioinformatician

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site leisure facilities

Shuttle/bus travel support

Park & Ride discounts

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a translational research bioinformatician to support rapid whole genome sequencing and methylation for precision treatments in childhood cancer. The role processes large Illumina TruPath data through bioinformatics pipelines in a regulated clinical environment.

The position is an 18-month fixed-term/secondment ending March 2028, with flexible working options and a focus on delivering clinical-grade analyses within timelines.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate bioinformatics or equivalent experience with workflows/pipelines.
• Completion of Health Education England’s Scientist Training Programme in Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics.
• HCPC clinical scientist registration or progress toward it.

Responsibilities

• Develop specialist clinical bioinformatics tools and workflows.
• Specialist analysis of genomic data: secondary and tertiary bioinformatics.
• Improve tools, processes and workflows for delivery of genomic diagnostic services.
• Investigate and resolve complex bioinformatics issues with input/output data.
• Plan and manage bioinformatics development projects interfacing with genomic lab functions.
• Contribute to local and national data sharing programmes.

Skills

Write code to a high standard

Programmatic statistical analysis

Presentation of complex scientific/bi医

Education

Postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics or equivalent

HEE Scientist Training Programme in Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics

HCPC clinical scientist registration or in progress

Tools

Git

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Main area Division B - Healthcare Scientists Grade Band 7 Contract 18 months (Fixed Term/Secondment - End date 31-03-2028) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-B-264218-RE

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B Town Cambridge Salary £49,387 - £56,515 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 16/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Opportunity for a translational research bioinformatician to support the NHS Genomics Networks of Excellence project: rapid whole genome sequencing and methylation to enable precision treatments in childhood cancer. The role will include processing Illumina TruPath genome data through secondary and tertiary analysis pipelines, preparing results for MDT discussion, operating in a regulated clinical bioinformatics environment. Applicants are expected to have experience working with large, complex data within clinically-relevant timelines.

This is an 18-month contract (finishing March 2028)

Main duties of the job

• Development of specialist clinical bioinformatics tools and workflows
• Specialist analysis of genomic data: secondary and tertiary bioinformatics
• Continued improvement of specialist clinical bioinformatics tools processes and workflows for delivery of genomic diagnostic services
• Investigation and resolution of complex bioinformatics issues by specialist examination of input & output data, and associated bioinformatics processes; includes communication with technical, scientific and clinical staff
• Planning and management of bioinformatics development projects; includes interfacing with technical, scientific and clinical functions of the genomic laboratory
• Contribution to and facilitation of appropriate local and national data sharing programmes

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 16th November 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics or an appropriate biological science or equivalent experience with skills in developing new workflows and pipelines
• Completion of Health Education England’s Scientist Training Programme in Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics or equivalent training programme
• HCPC clinical scientist registration or is working towards registration

Experience

• Has developed bioinformatics tools and/or resources
• Has implemented bioinformatics tools and/or resources
• Has experience of performing specialist analysis and interpretation of genomic data
• Has experience of performing bioinformatics analysis of next generation sequencing data
• Has experience of using tools such as R and pandas to perform programmatic statistical analysis of genomic data
• Has experience of effective, structured project management
• Has experience of working within a diagnostic genomic laboratory
• Has experience of specialist analysis and interpretation of genomic data in a healthcare setting
• Has experience of using automated, reproducible workflow management systems Has experience of performing bioinformatics analysis using cloud compute
• Has developed software collaboratively using a version control system such as git
• Has experience of clinical quality management systems
• Has used project management and team collaboration tools such as JIRA and Confluence

Knowledge

• Basic knowledge of human genetics and the effects of genetic variation
• Practical knowledge of programming and coding
• Practical knowledge of statistics for data analysis
• Knowledge of next generation sequencing technologies
• Knowledge and understanding of secondary bioinformatics analysis of data generated by next generation sequencing technologies
• Knowledge and understanding of tertiary bioinformatics analysis of data generated by next generation sequencing technologies
• Knowledge and awareness of the breadth of bioinformatics tools available for the analysis and interpretation of genomic data
• Broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of how different types genetic variation can lead to various genetic rare diseases and cancer
• Knowledge of clinical requirements for bioinformatics applications used for diagnostic services
• Familiar with requirements for accreditation of bioinformatics processes to the ISO 15189 standard
• In-depth knowledge of best practice guidance for development and application of bioinformatics tools in clinical laboratories
• Applied knowledge of good management practices
• Knowledge of data security and information governance requirements for clinical data

Skills

• Write object-orientated code to a high standard
• Query databases programmatically
• Alignment of next generation sequencing data
• Variant calling from next generation sequencing data
• Programmatic annotation of variants
• Programmatic filtering and prioritisation of variants
• Assessment of impact and clinical interpretation of variants
• Optimise bioinformatics tools for application in local pipelines
• Develop new bioinformatics tools
• Analyse complex genomics data to answer clinical bioinformatics questions
• Organise and manage delivery of complex projects
• Maintain concentration and focus under pressure
• Provide leadership to peers
• Deliver training to colleagues
• Present complex scientific and clinical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Create and accurately follow documentation and SOPs
• Clinically evaluate software for use in delivery of diagnostic services
• Perform code review and provide constructive feedback to peers to improve the quality of code
• Observe and systematically examine processes to propose improvements for clinical service delivery
• Develop bioinformatics policy to guide the practice of clinical bioinformatics
• Respond to queries from end users of bioinformatics software and communicate effectively to resolve issues and deliver against requirements

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
• Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations.
• Self-confidence and resilience.