Bioinformatician

About the role

We are looking to recruit two permanent Band 6 Bioinformaticians to work within the North East and Yorkshire Genomics Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH) Bioinformatics Team. The positions are based at one of the following NEY GLH sites (candidate's choice):

• NEY GLH Central Laboratory at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds
• Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• Newcastle Genetics Laboratory - Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The post holder will work 37.5 hours per week full-time and contribute to out-of-hours rotas, including weekends and bank holidays as required. This role offers the opportunity to join a collaborative team at the forefront of transforming and shaping genomics services for the future, working on a variety of exciting projects across rare disease and cancer.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialised bioinformatics expertise to support the diagnostic platforms used within NEY GLH, including implementation of data handling methods, analysis, and interpretation of data to directly impact patient care.
• Work within the NEY GLH virtual team across different sites to plan activities and develop the bioinformatics capability of NEY GLH.
• Carry out research, development, and service improvement in the field of genetics and bioinformatics.
• Contribute to the provision and development of an effective and high-quality diagnostic service.
• Maintain awareness of and adhere to all relevant codes of practice, Health & Safety procedures, and operational policies.
• Apply scientific skills and expertise to ensure high standards of quality, reliability, timeliness, and accuracy.
• Contribute to local and national scientific meetings and workshops through written and verbal presentations.
• Communicate effectively with clinical scientists, medical staff, biomedical scientists, IT and informatics staff, and peers regionally and nationally.
• Develop, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot highly complex bioinformatics software safely and efficiently.
• Input, manage, extract, and interpret patient data using laboratory computer systems, ensuring patient confidentiality.
• Analyse, validate, interpret, and compare technical data, exercising judgement to identify and solve problems.
• Implement and assist in the development of departmental policies and protocols, including audit and development programmes for service quality improvement.
• Participate in research and development projects aimed at improving patient care and evaluating new analytical methods.
• Create documents and reports using appropriate computer software for departmental and external use.
• Contribute to education and training initiatives within the department.

Requirements

• Significant experience within bioinformatics and human genomics.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
• Knowledge of DNA sequencing technologies and ability to advise on data analysis solutions.
• MSc or PhD in Bioinformatics or Computer Science with experience in software development is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a virtual team across multiple sites.
• Strong analytical and judgemental skills, with a focus on accuracy and problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for presenting findings and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality and adhering to departmental and Trust policies.
• Flexibility to adapt to changes in service delivery and work out-of-hours as required.

About the organisation

The North East and Yorkshire Genomics Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH) is a collaboration between Newcastle Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Children’s Trust, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. It is the largest genomics collaboration in the country, serving Yorkshire and Humber and the North. The Trusts offer a range of general and specialist hospital services with excellent clinical outcomes for patients and have an international reputation for excellence in specialist care, research, and academic training.

The Leeds Way is a set of values that guide the Trust: Responsible, Open and Honest, One Team, and Kind. The Trust's priorities focus on people, improvement and innovation, partnerships, and outcomes to deliver excellent, safe, and sustainable care for every patient every time.

Schedule

37.5 hours per week, full-time, with requirements to contribute to out-of-hours rotas, including weekends and bank holidays.

For further enquiries or a confidential discussion, please contact Helena Spiewak (NEY GLH Lead Bioinformatician) at helena.spiewak@nhs.net.