Job date: 2015-11-06
End Date:
Company : Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Country : Role : Postdoc
Staff Scientist - somatic cancer bioinformatics to support novel drug design
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (GB)£30574 to £38564 per annum plus excellent benefits
Shortlist Add to shortlist ApplyPostdoctoral staff scientist: a systematic approach for defining how protein structures are affected by somatic mutations in cancer.
Salary range from £30574 to £38564per annum plus excellent benefits. Fixed-term: 3 years
We are looking for a postdoctoral staff scientist experienced in structural bioinformatics who will bring protein structural knowledge and perspectives to the cancer genomics system COSMIC. The project is in collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals and forms part of Astex’s Sustaining Innovation postdoctoral scheme (http://www.astx.com/content/resources/Sustaining_Innovation_(Dec_2014).pdf).
We will systematically annotate somatic mutations with protein structural features including active sites, protein-protein interaction sites, etc. Additionally, mutations will be visualised in the 3D context of the protein structures. This will improve our understanding of how somatic mutations may affect protein function and will help to identify driver mutations, which in turn will help identify novel potential biomarkers and drug targets. Candidates must have experience and knowledge in protein structure and/or structural bioinformatics. In addition, good communication skills are essential to understand and influence two specialist teams.
Opportunity:
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre and Astex Pharmaceuticals have partnered to create an exciting role for a talented and motivated post-doctoral bioinformatics scientist to join the COSMIC team, toward researching novel pharmaceutical targets.
Cancer Genetics is experiencing a deluge of information as genome resequencing becomes easier and cheaper. The COSMIC project (http://cancer.sanger.ac.uk) is bringing millions of mutations into one system, creating the world’s largest collection of cancer mutations with the aim of defining those few important events which are driving disease (“drivers”). In this position you will take a leading scientific role in COSMIC, helping define the impact of mutations on the structure of each corresponding protein, which will provide a better understanding of how these mutations may drive disease. Within the COSMIC team, you will have specific goals to build software to systematically annotate COSMIC mutations with structural features, and interpret and visualise their structures using existing tools. As a key scientist in Sanger’s cancer team, you will be using these tools toward target discovery, highlighting which mutations can potentially be targeted with small molecule drugs.
This is a collaborative position between Astex Pharmaceuticals and Sanger’s Cancer Genome Project. While you will be based primarily at the Sanger Campus you will also spend time at Astex in Cambridge, and as such become familiar with both teams. You will be exposed to expert scientists across structural bioinformatics, genetics, biology, protein crystallography and drug design, with many opportunities for learning and gaining industrial experience. With unlimited access to the world’s largest cancer database and expert drug design systems, there will be many opportunities to contribute to both team’s science and influence their direction; many scientists will welcome your novel findings. With responsibilities across building COSMIC tools and research across drug targets, you will be encouraged to pursue multiple first-author high-impact publication opportunities.
Essential Skills
PhD in Bioinformatics or Biosciences discipline Knowledge and experience of protein structures and/or structural bioinformatics Self-motivated, able to work independently and organise own workload Excellent communication skills Data handling skills Experience of developing software for scientific researchIdeal Skills
Genetics knowledge and experience, especially in human cancer Experience of relational databases Presentation skillsOther information
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute operates at the forefront of genomics, sequencing and analyses targeting a wide range of genomes from single cell pathogens to higher vertebrates, with an emphasis on genomes relevant to human medicine and welfare. The Cancer Genome Project at the Institute has led the way in the systematic analysis of cancer genomes by using the human genome sequence and high throughput mutation detection techniques to identify somatically acquired sequence variants/mutations and hence identify genes critical in the development of human cancers (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/genetics/CGP/).
Astex is a leader in innovative drug discovery and development, committed to the fight against cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. As part of Japan’s leading pharmaceutical company, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Astex operates from two sites with drug discovery research headquarters in Cambridge, UK and clinical development headquarters in Pleasanton, California, USA. Astex are world leaders in fragment-based drug discovery and have developed a cutting edge structure-based design platform with a strong structural bioinformatics component in order to support this process (http://www.astx.com).
The Sanger Institute is a charitably funded research centre focused on understanding the role of genetics in health and disease. We use state of the art large-scale genomic approaches to drive world-leading projects to uncover the basis of genetic and infectious disease. Our goal is to provide results that can be translated into diagnostics, treatments or therapies that reduce global health burdens.
The Institute is located near Cambridge, UK on the stunning Wellcome Trust Genome Campus. This growing and dynamic site is the British hub of genomic science. It hosts the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), the Centre for Therapeutic Target Validation, a Biodata Innovation Centre and will soon host Genomics England Limited’s 100,000 Genomes Sequencing Centre. It is an excellent environment in which to work and collaborate with researchers on campus and around the world and benefit from cross-fertilisation of ideas.
To help researchers to develop their skills and networks, the Institute hosts a range of scientific seminars with internal and invited speakers, scientific group meetings and skills development workshops. In addition the Campus is home to the Wellcome Trust Advanced Course and Scientific Conferences programme and the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre.
Our Benefits include: Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, Group Income Protection, Healthcare scheme, Childcare Vouchers, Workplace Nursery and 25 days Annual Leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30, plus Bank Holidays. We also have a gym, two cafes, dining facilities, and a free campus bus service. Our thriving Sports and Social Club provides many opportunities to meet with people working across the campus.
Please include a covering letter and CV with your application.
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