Research Fellow in Bioinformatics

Job Description

About the Role

The Sussex Bioinformatics Lab is seeking a talented Postdoctoral Research Associate in Bioinformatics to contribute to two high-impact projects at the intersection of data science, bioinformatics, and cancer research.

You will play a key role in developing the CRUK Data Hub, an online platform designed to make cancer datasets easier to find, access, and reuse according to FAIR Data Principles. This will involve:

Collaborating with data scientists at Cancer Research UK and the HDR-UK Health Data Gateway.

Supporting web development and metadata curation for CRUK-funded cancer datasets.

Creating user guidance, training materials, and optimizing web design for researcher experience.

You will also contribute to the Pearl AI: DependANT project — an AI-driven platform enabling oncologists to use tumour DNA/RNA sequencing data for identifying precision therapies and clinical trials. Your responsibilities will include:

Processing sequencing data (FASTQ, BAM/CRAM) and generating variant call files (VCFs).

Preparing input data for AI tools and implementing secure, reproducible bioinformatics workflows.

Supporting clinical translation by preparing patient-facing documentation, demonstrating the platform to oncologists, and collecting structured feedback.

Attending Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) multidisciplinary meetings and collaborating with clinicians on pilot study data analysis.

About You

You will hold (or soon complete) a PhD in Bioinformatics, Informatics, or a related field, with a strong interest in applying computational approaches to improve cancer outcomes.

We’re looking for someone who:

Is skilled in Python and/or Laravel, and experienced in web development.

Has a passion for building secure, scalable, and reproducible workflows.

Enjoys combining data science, software engineering, and biology to create practical, elegant solutions.

Communicates effectively with both technical and clinical audiences.

Is proactive, curious, and motivated by the opportunity to make precision oncology a clinical reality.

About the School

The School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex is one of the largest academic schools in the UK, covering disciplines from Chemistry to Molecular Biosciences and Conservation Biology. We are home to five departments — Biochemistry & Biomedicine, Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Neuroscience, Ecology & Evolution, and Chemistry — as well as the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, which drives translational research from lab to clinic.

Our School:

Has a research income exceeding £50 million.

Achieved over 90% world-leading or internationally excellent outputs in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Holds a Silver Athena Swan Award for advancing gender equality.

Embodies the University’s values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration, and courage.

Why Work with Us

Our scenic campus is set within the South Downs National Park, just a short walk from Falmer Station with excellent transport links. We offer a range of staff benefits, including:

Cycle-to-work scheme and dedicated cycling paths.

Comprehensive reward and benefits package.

Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

The University encourages applications from women and Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, who are underrepresented in STEMM disciplines at Sussex.

Visa Sponsorship: This role meets eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Please see our Skilled Worker Visa information page for details.