Helpdesk Bioinformatician

We are seeking an enthusiastic Helpdesk Bioinformatician to join the European Variation Archive (EVA) team. The EVA project is part of the EGA and EVA team led by Thomas Keane at EMBL-EBI. We work closely with other members of the Omics Section, and share our expertises to provide continuous training to our technical staff.

You will join a dynamic team of software developers and bioinformatician to help the EVA to scale to billions of variants with thousands of sample genotypes across hundreds of species. The EVA develops services that allow scientists to make the results of their research available to the community, and to access data submitted by others using web portals and REST APIs. The team follows agile methodology to track work and uses Git, JIRA, and Confluence in a collaborative and open source environment.

**Your role**

As a Helpdesk Bioinformatician, you provide user-facing services to support submissions to EVA (such as study submission, metadata and data validation and processing). You will coordinate collection and recording of submitter feedback and requirements to the EVA management and development team. You must be committed to organisation, documentation and timely response to users’ requests. In collaboration with the project lead you will be developing documentation, FAQs and short tutorials to help submitters better understand our requirements and validation processes.

**Responsibilities**
- Provide first-line helpdesk support for the EVA community, answering queries and resolving issues related to data submission and access
- Ensure data quality and consistency and resolve any issues arising from data submissions
- Develop and maintain documentation and training materials for data submission and, to support the EVA community in their use of the database
- Participate in team meetings and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the EVA submission systems and related tools and resources
- Represent the EVA in national and international meetings and conferences as required. Provide training on submission and access to EVA.

**You have**
- A Bachelor's degree or higher in bioinformatics, computational biology, genetics or a related field
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Knowledge of genetic variation file format such as VCF and relevant bioinformatics tools and resources
- Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python or Bash

**You might also have**

**Experience**:

- in a helpdesk or customer support role is desirable but not essential
- using issue tracking systems (JIRA, RT or other)

Familiarity with:

- relational databases and SQL
- genome sequencing data and genetic variation detection methods

**Benefits and Contract Information**
- **Hybrid working arrangements**:

- **Generous time off**: 2.5 days per month, in addition to bank holidays
- **Campus life**: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
- **Family benefits**: On-site nursery, 10 days child sick leave and holiday clubs on campus
- **Salary**: £2882.54 monthly, UK Equivalent £44,951 (gross).
- **Contract type: Supernumerary - **this contract type will be required to pay class 3 National Insurance Contributions (approximately £15.85 a week, please check UK HMRC website).
- **Contract duration**:This position is approximately 7 months with an estimated end date on 31/12/2023.
- **Job location**: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas.
- **DORA** - EMBL is a signatory of DORA and is committed to hiring and training outstanding research, service, and administrative personnel.

**Salary**: £40,000.00-£43,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Wellness programme
- Work from home

Schedule:

- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Saffron Walden: reliably commute or be willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (required)

Application question(s):

- What is your notice period?

**Experience**:

- Bash: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Saffron Walden

Application deadline: 07/05/2023
Reference ID: EBI02135

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