As bioinformatician you will assist and advice biological researchers with a variety of bioinformatical problems arising in ongoing research projects. The bioinformatician will be part of the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), and will work within the four research themes of the IBL: Bioactive Molecules, Development & Disease, Evolution & Biodiversity and Host-Microbe Interactions. The bioinformatician will set up and maintain a Linux-based bioinformatics facility, perform bioinformatics analysis tasks by using or adapting existing computational pipelines, or developing new ones where necessary. Also, the selected candidate is expected to provide advice, assist and teach other researchers, including MSc and PhD students, to perform their own bioinformatics analyses.

The bioinformatician should have experience in biological problem solving and should be familiar with bioinformatics analyses of NGS datasets. Proficiency in common bioinformatics tools, and the ability to develop simple tools and adapt existing ones written in general-purpose language is required. Candidates should have a strong statistics background, and be able to efficiently mine the most common bioinformatics databases. The computational techniques and responsibilities include:

• R/Bioconductor;
• General-purposes language such as Python, Ruby or Perl;
• Data-mining using the most common bioinformatics databases;
• Maintenance of a Linux-based bioinformatics facility, including software updates and package installation.

• Enthusiasm for bioinformatics and computational biology;
• MSc or PhD degree in Bioinformatics or equivalent level of expertise;
• Affinity with both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems biology;
• Ability and enthusiasm for working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment;
• Service-oriented bioinformatician focusing on research support;
• Experience in biological problem-solving using bioinformatics and computational biology approaches;
• Proficiency in the main bioinformatics research tools;
• Written and oral proficiency in English;
• Prepared to learn the Dutch language;
• You take initiative and have a strong interest in academic research.

We offer a full-time position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation the appointment can be extended by a further two years. Salary range from €2,835 to €3,895 gross per month (pay scale 9).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.  Additional budget allows for research visits abroad and attendance of international conferences.

Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Leiden University

The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 1,300 staff and almost 4,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.