Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges.

We are currently seeking a Senior Database Curator to join COSMIC team at Wellcome Sanger Institute on a Permanent basis. You will be coming in at a pivotal time as we build and innovate for the future, playing a vital role in shaping COSMIC's direction and global impact.

About the Role:

You will identify and curate somatic mutations and complex clinical data from the scientific literature and enter it into the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database.

About You:

You will have significant proven experience in scientific research (laboratory, computational or literature-based) or data curation, you will bring scientific expertise to our curation of genetic mutations and how they affect human cancer.

You will be working with a team of biocurators to capture published knowledge of somatic mutations across all human cancers, focusing on details with the greatest impact. Core responsibilities will include:

• Prioritising relevant literature
  
• Extraction of useful data
  
• Submission into COSMIC
  

However, we actively encourage individuals who want to push boundaries and innovate. With this in mind, you will have opportunities to explore and promote new techniques, scope out new sources for curation, and identify new ways of presenting, communicating and analysing the information across COSMIC.

This role would suit a curator with some experience in genetics or oncology, or a lab scientist with computational expertise wishing to move into the field of biocuration.

This role can be moulded to include more gene/disease centric manual curation or more computational whole genome scale curation based on your specific skill set and interest. Experience of Unix/Linux and SQL, and understanding of scripting languages such as Perl and Python are useful in the more computational setting.

After an initial training period you'll have the opportunity to develop lead roles or areas of expertise in specific aspects of curation. You will be responsible for prioritisation, quality and deadlines of your own work. You will also be expected to interact with the COSMIC users and the external scientific community.

Essential Technical Skills:

• PhD or equivalent experience in biology-based discipline
  
• Experience in scientific research (laboratory, computational or literature-based) or data curation. Understanding of cancer biology and mutations would be an advantage
  
• Competency and familiarity with IT systems (for example SQL, biological databases, ontologies, bioinformatics tools, variant interpretation tools)
  

Competencies and Behaviours:

• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
  
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and organise own workload
  
• Good team player
  
• Effective and good written and oral communication and proven ability to convey a message with context
  
• Demonstrates inclusivity and respect for all
  

About Us:

This post offers an opportunity to work in the expanding field of biocuration and support cutting-edge cancer genetic research.

COSMIC is the key information source in human cancer research worldwide and the world's largest source of expert manually curated somatic mutation information. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine. We are open and collaborative; we share our data, results, tools and technologies across the world to advance science. Our findings are used to improve health and to understand life on Earth.

Our team culture and environment fosters learning and development, providing opportunities for you to grow as a scientist/biocurator.

Other Information

We have a flexible work ethic and after an initial training period on campus, we offer hybrid-working with minimum of two days per week onsite.

We welcome applications equally from those who wish to work part-time allowing working school hours or 3 -4 days per week with a flexible working arrangement.

Application Process:

Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the essential skills set out above, why you want to apply to this role and what value/experience you can bring.

Salary per annum: £44,905 to £52,000

Informatician/ Data Scientist job family: Grade 2 Role profile

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 29th September 2024 (Shortlisting w/c 30th Sept, Zoom Screening Interviews w/c 7th Oct, Face to Face Interviews w/c 14th Oct)

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That's why we're committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.