We have an exciting opportunity to join the Rare Genetic Disorders Research Group led by Prof. Stephan Sanders in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford as a Data Manager.

 

The group aims to identify, understand, and develop therapies for rare genetic disorders. The group is primarily computational but partners with multiple international labs (including Harvard, Yale, UC San Francisco [UCSF], and the New York Genome Center) to co-design experiments and generate novel datasets, including exome/genome sequencing of hundreds of thousands of individuals, large-scale single-cell data from primary human tissues, spatial transcriptomic data, and experimental genomic screens.

 

The Data Manager’s role will be to organize and facilitate access to the group’s data and software resources, working closely with all members of the group and our external collaborators. These data are stored on a mixture of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), local high-performance clusters, and protected research environments (e.g., Genomic England). You will report to Stephan Sanders and join a team of three postdocs/staff scientists, three PhD students, and three research assistants hosted at the sites at Oxford and UCSF. You will be expected to provide guidance and assistance to researchers and students in the group and help in the preparation of scientific publications and presentations.

 

You will be working in a growing department within the Medical Sciences Division. The Department of Paediatrics is a world leader in child health research and hosts internationally renowned research programmes in neurological diseases, drug development, haematology, and immunology, neuroimaging. The group led by Prof. Stephan Sanders is based in the recently formed Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM) in a brand-new building at the Old Road/Churchill Campus.

 

The group specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders, including epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. Over the past decade, this group’s work has helped identify hundreds of genes associated with these disorders (Fu et al. Nature Genetics 2022) and has used the genomic data to advance our understanding of the role of noncoding variants identified in whole-genome sequencing (An et al. Science 2018), the role of splicing variants (Jagnathan et al. Cell 2019), and the role of genes associated with neurodevelopmental delay in the developing human brain (Satterstrom et al. Cell 2020). Detailed analysis of mutations in the gene SCN2A, a common cause of childhood seizures and developmental delay, has provided insight into genotype-phenotype relationships (Ben-Shalom et al. Biol. Psych 2017), functional mechanisms (Spratt et al. Neuron 2019), regulatory processes (Liang et al. Genome Medicine 2021), ultimately leading to a potential therapy (Tamura et al. BioRxiv 2022). By focusing on human phenotypes, gene regulatory processes, and the role of sex as a modifier, we aim to advance therapies for all rare genetic disorders.

 

This position is offered full-time on a fixed-term contract, initially for two years, with the possibility to extend provided further external funding is available.

 

This role meets the criteria for a UK Skilled Worker visa.

 

Career Development: The post holder will receive training through interaction with researchers in this group and our collaborators. They will be encouraged to attend training and research skill courses provided by the University of Oxford.

 

This position will suit someone with meticulous attention to detail who enjoys designing and implementing logical and organized data structures. The group and this position are highly collaborative, so excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Applicants will need to hold a relevant (e.g., computational, data analysis, science) Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and be able to demonstrate substantial experience in data management. They  will need to have demonstrated proficiency in computer programming (Python preferred) and working with high-performance and/or cloud environments.

 

You will be required to upload a CV and Supporting Statement as part of your online application. The Supporting Statement should include a cover letter and should also clearly describe how you meet each of the selection criteria listed in the job description. Click here for information and advice on writing an effective Supporting Statement.

 

To discuss the post in more detail, please contact Stephan Sanders, the group leader, using he contact details below.

 

Only online applications received before 12.00 midday on Friday 24 November will be considered. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter.