Job description
Position Details
Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,924 to £30,497. With potential progression once in post to £34,304 a year. As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 6, £27,924.
Grade 6
Full Time / Fixed Term Contract up to 31 August 2023
Closing date: 11 August 2022
Background
We are seeking to recruit a team-player with good communication skills who is self-organised and proactive. They will play a key role in the delivery of a project funded by a CRUK Data Innovation Award and situated within the Bladder Cancer Research Centre (BCRC) in the Institute of Cancer & Genomic Sciences. It aims to consolidate (and curate) various clinical and biological data into a structured data-warehouse, with the ultimate aim to make the data ready for future scientific and clinical applications, in particular those based on AI.
The data have been collected over several years by the West Midlands Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme (BCPP) from >1,500 patients and >1,000 patient samples. The post holder will work closely within a multidisciplinary team including the BCPP Study Co-ordinator and the BCRC Theme Leads for Proteomics & Bioinformatics, Genomics & Bioinformatics, Novel Therapeutics, Bio-medical Engineering and Clinical Research & Clinical Trials. This post represents a real opportunity to make a difference for bladder cancer patients in the future.
Challenges to solve within the project will include the diversity of the data (clinical, genomic, imaging, etc), incidences of incomplete data, smart identification of faulty data-points (such as outlier detection), initial data normalisation and harmonisation. The team will also develop a technical solution for a structured data repository, to ease querying of the existing data, as well as export into (AI) analysis pipelines.
Summary of Role
To assist in research (by carrying out data collection, data organisation, or analyses), to create knowledge through providing research support for projects and research groups.
In particular: in this CRUK funded project, we aim to consolidate various biological and clinical data types of bladder cancer patients into a unified system (this includes normalisation, data integrity and sanity checks, and initial dissemination), to allow streamlined application of advanced analyses techniques including AI.
- Work within specified research grants and/or projects.
- Operate within area of specialism
- Contribute to publications
- Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews, and in particular by consolidating data from various in-house sources
- Work in a team of bioinformaticians and clinicians to achieve project goals, participate in regular meetings and project discussions with the team and regularly report to team leads
- Process and analyse research data as directed
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
- Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods
- Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
- Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area
- Practical experience of applying the relevant skills and techniques
- Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively
- Ability to access and organise resources successfully
- Basic knowledge of
- clinical and biological data processing
- relevant file and repository types
- basic cancer biology
- databases (SQL, no-SQL)
- data-protection and security
- clinical ontologies
- Good and demonstrated command of programming/ scripting languages (e.g. Python)
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
Further particulars can be found here.
Informal enquires to Dr Roland Arnold, email: R.Arnold.2@bham.ac.uk
Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.
