Research Fellow

The John Curtin School of Medical Research

Research Fellow
Department of Genome Biology
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment
Canberra/ACT

The John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University is seeking to appoint three (3) highly motivated Research Fellows specialising in computational biology. The positions will be for a period of three (3) years to drive ambitious transcriptomics/epigenomics research.

The positions will be located within the Department of Genome Biology.Successful candidates will undertake research aimed at exploring epigenetic, transcriptomic and other global data as generated in the laboratories of Professors David Tremethick and Thomas Preiss (e.g. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2012 19:1076; Cell. 2012 149:1393; Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 40:5023).The positions offer the opportunity to participate in research involving great resources from both, "wet and dry" life sciences. Applicants can expect excellent mentoring by leading academics and the opportunity to build their academic career.If you have strong skills in the computational analysis of global data sets, particularly next-generation sequencing derived transcriptomics and epigenomics data, we would welcome an application from you.

We offer generous remuneration benefits, including up to four (4) weeks paid vacation per year, assistance with relocation expenses and 17% employer contribution to superannuation. The Australian National University is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from women and applicants from diverse backgrounds.The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au

ANU values diversity and inclusion and believes employment opportunities must not be limited by socio-economic background, race, religion or gender.

For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit http://hr.anu.edu.au/staff-equity

Enquiries: Prof David Tremethick and Prof Thomas Preiss
Phone: 61 261252326 & 61 261259690
Email: david.tremethick@anu.edu.au & Thomas.preiss@anu.edu.au

Reference number: A193-14WG
Closing Date: 1 June 2014

Position Information:

Research Fellow
Department of Genome Biology
Responsible To: Head, RNA Biology Group or Head, Chromatin and Transcriptional Regulation Group

Purpose Statement:

The Research Fellows will undertake research in support of various research projects within the Department of Genome Biology, The John Curtin School of Medical Research.

Professor David Tremethick: This position will join the Chromatin and Transcriptional Regulation Group led by Professor David Tremethick within the Department of Genome Biology. The Research Fellow will work on a NHMRC funded project focussing on exploring the role of histone variants in regulating RNA splicing and establishing an active promoter chromatin architecture, with important implications in the brain and testis function as well as in cancer.

Professor Thomas Preiss: These positions will join the RNA Biology Group led by Professor Thomas Preiss within the Department of Genome Biology. The Research Fellows will work on NHMRC funded projects focussing on exploring the role of miRNAs, RNA-binding proteins and RNA modifications in regulating gene expression, with implications for cardiac and cancer biology.

Position Dimension & Relationships:

The Research Fellows will report to either Professor David Tremethick (Head, Chromatin and Transcriptional Regulation Group) or Professor Thomas Preiss (Head, RNA Biology Group) in the Department of Genome Biology. All positions will be required to work independently and collaboratively within a small team of bioinformaticians, focusing on transcriptomics and epigenomics, and will maintain good relationships with existing and potential collaborative partners, other national and international research institutions.

Role Statement:

Specific duties required of a Level B Academic may include:
1. the conduct of research under limited supervision either as a member of team, or where appropriate, independently, and the productions or contribution to the production of conference and seminar papers and publications from that research;
2. design and implement experimental strategies and data analysis approaches to large datasets generated on HTS platforms;
3. contribute a computational biology perspective and bioinformatics expertise to ongoing research. Projects in humans and in animal models will include:

Identification and mapping of epigenetic marks and DNA binding proteins by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (CHIP-seq);

Investigation of gene expression network responses to external or intrinsic stimuli;

Analysis of transcriptome composition, epitranscriptomic marks and RNA-binding protein properties by RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq).
4. collaborate with researchers within the JCSMR, ANU, nationally and internationally to develop and apply new computational biological and bioinformatics methodologies;
5. involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;
6. actively seek and secure external funding including preparation and submission of research proposals to external funding bodies;
7. some administrative functions primarily connected with the area of research of the academic;
8. occasional contributions to teaching in relation to his/her research project(s);
9. attendance at meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is connected and/or at departmental and/or faculty meetings and/or membership of a limited number of committees;
10. advice within the field of the staff member's research to postgraduate students;
11. comply with all ANU policies and procedures, and in particular those relating to work health and safety and equal opportunity; and
12. other duties as allocated by the supervisor or the Vice-Chancellor consistent with the classification of the position.

Skill Base

A Level B Academic will normally have completed a relevant doctoral qualification or have equivalent qualifications or research experience.

In addition he/she may be expected to have had post-doctoral research experience that has resulted in publications, conference papers, reports or professional or technical contributions that give evidence of research ability.

Selection Criteria:

1. A PhD in the area of Bioinformatics with a strong record of achievement at the postgraduate level as evidenced by publications in peer reviewed journals.
2. Extensive experience with high throughput biological data, such as RNA or DNA sequencing.
3. Ability to secure competitive research grants or fellowships.
4. Demonstrated programming experience preferably in an object-orientated programing language, or have some knowledge of a scripting language. Familiarity with statistics including experience using statistical programming languages such as R or Matlab would advantageous.
5. Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing and managing significant projects with complex requirements including the ability to set and monitor own work objectives within set resource limits and deadlines.
6. Highly developed oral and written communication skills and ability to work diligently, in a team as well as independently, towards goals established by the research team.
7. A demonstrated understanding of equal opportunity principles and policies and a commitment to their application in a university context.