Research Project: Obesity and Cardio-Metabolic Complications Project Team

Location: Nanjing – China

Salary：Competitive, Dependent upon experience

Hours: Full-time

Contract Period: 2 years

We have an exciting Research Associate position (Post-Doctoral or equivalent experience) opening available for Bioinformatics and Data Science to work on the project “Obesity-related metabolic complications: pathogenesis, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets” in the laboratory of Prof. Vidal-Puig/ Dr Rodriguez-Cuenca at the Cambridge University Nanjing Centre Technology and Innovation in Nanjing. This post will be based in Nanjing but will require close contact with our laboratory in Cambridge.

For further information about the programme, please contact Prof. Vidal-Puig (ajv22@medschl.cam.ac.uk), Dr Sergio Rodriguez Cuenca (sr441@medschl.cam.ac.uk).

To apply, please email a CV and covering letter, including a list of publications, to cunjchr@cunjc.org.cn

Our website at Cambridge.

https://www.TVPlab-cambridge.com

https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/research/principal-investigators/antonio-vidal-puig/

https://www.tvplab-cambridge.com/src

Project Introduction:

With the continuous improvement of the quality of life, obesity has become the focus of the general public's attention. Understanding the pathogenesis of obesity can significantly help researchers understand the causes of obesity and find effective treatments. We aim to investigate the control mechanisms of adipose tissue plasticity and function to inform and implement strategies against obesity-related metabolic complications. Improving the plasticity and function of adipose tissue can prevent/reverse the ectopic accumulation of lipids in peripheral organs others than adipose tissue (lipotoxicity) and reduce the risk of diabetes and other complications including fatty liver (NAFLD). Thus, the project will study the effect of obesity on the hepatic lipid network that causes fatty liver (NAFLD). The quantity and the quality of the lipids accumulated in the liver determine liver inflammation and fibrosis associated with obesity, thus controlling fatty liver (NAFLD) to liver inflammation and fibrosis (NASH). Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of NASH will help identify high-risk individuals suffering from the disease and provide new therapeutical targets against the disease.

Job Description：

1. Closely work with the research team of Cambridge University in the UK to plan and conduct research work daily to the highest of research standards at Cambridge University-Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation.

2. Process, analyse and interpret high volumes of data and pursue data-driven research.

3. Design and implement analysis methods to combine multiple data sources to uncover disease mechanisms and potential drug targets.

4. Develop and maintain methods for the analysis of scientific data, also on behalf of other research groups, to support the delivery of research projects.

5 Use appropriate software packages or develop custom software to perform the planned analyses. Implement methods to visualize and summarize the results of these complex analyses.

6. Cooperate effectively with experimentalists and other data scientists to design and develop methods and analytical workflows for deriving insights from (multi omics) research data.

7. Keep the pace with a rapidly evolving research area, particularly for the exploitation of the available analytical approaches and, where necessary, adapt them or develop novel ones.

8. Prepare scientific manuscripts or other summary of results. Participate in the writing of high-impact scientific publications both in a leading role and as a team player. Prepare tables, figures and other material for manuscripts, reports, presentations to disseminate scientific findings.

9. Provide teaching, learning and training support: assist in the training and/or supervision of students, visitors and other staff as required; plan and deliver seminars and/or hands-on training sessions.

10. Assist in the development, implementation and maintenance of the policies and procedures including effective use of resources. Assist the Head of Bioinformatics in planning the budget for the core facility’s resources and equipment.

11. Liaise with colleagues to improve data analysis strategies, meet with internal/external collaborators and stakeholders to manage joint projects and advise on system and data analysis strategy. Build internal and external contacts and take part in networks for the exchange of information which may lead to future collaborations.

12. Contribute to planning and developing scientific research programmes.

13. Supervise PhD and Master students in the research.

Job Requirement:

(Essential)

1. MSc in Computational Biology, Statistics, Data Science or related fields

2. PhD or comparable experience, in Computer Science, Computational Biology, Data Science or a related field.

3. Extensive experience in (large scale) biological data analysis and integration also by using ML/AI techniques.

4. Experience in bioinformatics analysis of NGS data and familiarity with the most common bioinformatics software and pipelines

5. Proficiency in one or more common programming/scripting languages, e.g., C++, R, Python, familiarity with Linux-based systems and bash scripting.

6. Background in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and/or metabolic diseases and molecular biology is desirable

7 Familiarity with the basic concepts of genetics, cell biology and molecular biology,

8. Excellent written and oral communication skills in both Mandarin and English.

9. Ability to engage and communicate with people from multiple clinical and biological –disciplines.

10. Ability to deliver training to non-experts and communicate effectively either in formal presentations or small group meetings.

11. Experience in scientific publishing and submission of materials to scientific conferences, documented by evidence of independent writing of papers and reports.

12. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, plan workload and do forward planning.

13. Ability to work to tight deadlines.

14. Ability to think critically and creatively.

15. Highly motivated, ambitious with a flexible mindset.

（Preferred）

1. Background in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and/or metabolic diseases and molecular biology.

2. Ability to communicate in Mandarin

3. Ability to teach;

4. Ability to obtain research funding.

Others:

1. We will provide the successful candidate with ample opportunities for personal development and training, being connected with the world-class scientific community in the UK (including but not limited to the Wellcome MRC Institute for Metabolic Sciences, the European Bioinformatics Institute and Wellcome Sanger Institute), benefiting from interaction with UK and EU scientists. Moreover, direct collaboration with experimental scientists offers the unique possibility of being involved in the whole data generation and analysis workflow, from the experimental design phase to the analysis processes.

2. There will be occasional requirements to work outside of regular working hours.

3. There will be travel needs to present results at conferences or scientific meetings. It would be expected once or twice visits to Cambridge a year.