Research Fellow in Conservation Genomics

Research Fellow in Conservation Genomics 

The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the School of Natural Sciences is looking for a Research Fellow to play a leading role in delivering on a NERC-funded project entitled ‘Genomic signatures of host resistance to virus infection in birds’ (Principle Investigator: Prof Jim Groombridge). This exciting project on avian host-pathogen genomic systems aims to develop Deep Learning models to predict host resistance to circovirus infection in parrots. Available for the project will be ecological and life-history data sets and archived samples collected during the restoration of the Mauritius (echo) parakeet. Transcriptomic and genomic approaches will build upon existing whole genome datasets across multiple avian systems that have experienced circovirus outbreaks. You will join a collaborative team of evolutionary geneticists, bioinformaticians, virologists, AI modellers and conservation scientists co-led by Prof Jim Groombridge at Kent, Prof C. van Oosterhout at the University of East Anglia and Asst. Prof. Hernan Morales at the University of Copenhagen.

As Research Fellow in Conservation Genomics you can expect to be involved in:

• Planning, coordinating and implementing NERC research project ‘Genomic signatures of host resistance to virus infection in birds’, by taking lead responsibility for; (i) Supporting field-sampling activities and perform transcriptome/gene expression and genomic analyses; (ii) Building, training and applying Deep Neural Network / AI models to a range of datasets; (iii) Testing model performance on a range of avian genomic and disease databases.
• Publishing research findings in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences and disseminate knowledge through various academic and public engagement channels
• Supporting and mentoring postgraduate research students in developing their research techniques and in their academic and professional development. 

What will you bring to the role?

• A PhD or equivalent in a natural sciences subject within the field of genomics and Artificial Intelligence/Deep learning 
• Strong bioinformatics expertise across a range of genomic applications
• Specialist hands-on expertise in designing, building and using Deep Neural Network / Artificial Intelligence models to analyse genomic/bioinformatic data

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs) 
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SNS-050-25.

We particularly welcome applications from female candidates as they are under-represented at this level in this area