UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK
School of Mathematics and Statistics,
School of Computing Science and the
School of Clinical Medical Sciences
THREE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITIONS IN
STATISTICAL BIOINFORMATICS AND E-SCIENCE
Three post-doctoral research positions are available to work on
exciting multi-disciplinary research problems spanning systems
biology, statistical bioinformatics and computing science. There are
two projects, both funded by the BBSRC Bioinformatics and e-Science
Programme II for a period of three years beginning October 2004 or as
soon as possible thereafter. In each case applicants should have (or
be near to completing) a PhD in Statistics, Mathematical Modelling,
Computational Biology or a related discipline. Knowledge of some of
Bayesian statistics, computational statistics, MCMC, software
development, GRID/web services, systems biology, molecular biology and
genetics would be advantageous, but training and support will be
available as required. The appointees will be based primarily in the
School of Mathematics and Statistics, joining active research groups
in Bayesian statistics and statistical bioinformatics. They will also
enjoy stimulating interaction with other bioinformatics and biological
modelling groups within Newcastle, especially the groups within the
School of Computing Science and the School of Clinical Medical
Sciences.
Further details regarding the individual projects are given
below. Note that all applicants will be considered for both projects
unless they specify otherwise in their application.
Integration of GRID-based post-genomic data resources through Bayesian
calibration of biological simulators (Grant # BBS/B/16650, two posts)
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/math/research/statistics/bioinformatics/calibrate.htm
Investigators: Dr DJ Wilkinson, Prof TBL Kirkwood, Dr RJ Boys
The primary aim of the project is to capitalise on the development of
GRID-based modelling and simulation resources such as BASIS
(www.basis.ncl.ac.uk) by building a higher level computational GRID
facility designed for integration of multiple post-genomic data
resources. This facility, based on state-of-the-art Bayesian
calibration techniques, will call upon GRID-based biological
simulators for forward simulation whilst solving the inverse problems
facilitated by data integration internally. Thus the project will
provide a powerful new tool for the academic community that will
enable inferences to be made about parameters and relationships within
large network models of biochemical pathways and cell signalling
systems.
ComparaGrid - enabling GRID technologies for comparative genomics
(Grant # BBS/B/17115, one post for WP4)
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/math/research/statistics/bioinformatics/comparagrid.htm
Integrating genomic data across species boundaries is critical to the
successful exploitation of previous investment in this
area. Systematic attempts to do this have thus far carried a single
species focus e.g. annotating the genome of one species using
functional data from a second. Because of the multiple potential views
that could be applied to the combined dataset, a generalised
"warehousing" approach will not succeed. We will develop a new
GRID-based system to capture the details of relationships between
genomic data either within or across species in a way that will enable
complex ad-hoc queries to be run and demonstrate that the underlying
raw data can be combined to draw maximum benefit from those data for
all genomic communities.
This grant is a large and complex one, involving other investigators
at Newcastle as well as other investigators from around the UK. The
overall leader of the project is Dr A Law, head of bioinformatics at
the Roslin Institute. The local (Newcastle) PI is Dr A Wipat
(Computing Science). We are recruiting for work-package WP4:
Development of a Bayesian comparative genomics inference engine. The
WP4 investigators are Dr RJ Boys and Dr DJ Wilkinson.
Further information regarding these positions can be obtained from the
web page:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/math/research/statistics/bioinformatics/jobs.htm
which includes details of the application procedure.
Informal enquiries and applications should be directed to Dr Darren Wilkinson
Tel : +44 (0)191 222 7320 (direct line), Fax: +44 (0)191 222 8020,
Email: [log in to unmask], WWW: http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/d.j.wilkinson/
Depending on experience and qualifications, salary will be on the RA1A
scale: GBP 19,460 - GBP 25,699 per annum.
Closing Date: Monday, 9th August 2004
We anticipate interviewing on Wednesday, 18th August 2004. Candidates
who cannot make this date should make clear their availability during
August in their application.
--
Darren Wilkinson Email: [log in to unmask]
WWW: http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/d.j.wilkinson/
