1. You are holder of a MSc in Bioinformatics and/or other relevant degree with profound knowledge and experience in bioinformatic tools (e.g. MSc in Biomedical Sciences) or you are equivalent due to relevant experience
2. You have the motivation and ambition to make a personal contribution to single-cell omics research
3. You have experience with bioinformatics approaches for DNA and/or RNA next-generation sequencing analyses
4. You have experience in creating and implementing data workflows (e.g. using Snakemake, Nextflow)
5. You have experience in creating and using containerized computing environments (e.g using Docker, Singularity)
6. You have experience with running software on a high-performance computing cluster or cloud environment
7. Working proficiency in UNIX/Linux
8. Proficiency in R and Python script programming languages
9. Knowledge of human molecular genetics, genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and/or next-generation sequencing technologies
10. Experience with HTML and development of websites
11. You have excellent critical and problem-solving skills
12. High level communication skills that enable you to evoke complex requirements from, and convey complex information to, individuals with different levels of technical knowledge, are required
13. You are able to be inventive and to present novel ideas in method development, data analysis and interpretation
14. You are able to work independently and as a team member
15. Evidence for productivity in a research setting such as publications, etc.
Additional desirable skills and experience:
16. Experience with single-cell multi-omics analytics and computational method development in the area
17. Knowledge of statistical modelling, particularly Bayesian modelling (using STAN and/or PyMC)
18. Knowledge of classical and/or deep machine learning methods
19. Experience with spatial transcriptomics and/or multi-omics analyzes and the development of related computational methods
20. You are responsible for developing tools to deal with large amounts of generated biological data and to interpret this data. Therefore good programming skills are required in order to develop an own system or to manage and tailor a commercial package
21. You are responsible for providing bioinformatics expertise, performing analyses and the technical implementation thereof in projects related to single-cell (epi)genomic and transcriptomic data processing and data management. Besides this specialised advice and expertise, provide training and coaching to users (laboratory technologists, PhD students, postdocs, ...) in our own lab and outside it
22. You work closely with researchers and play an important role in setting up new experiments
23. You proactively search scientific literature for input to develop, test and validate new methods. Also, you follow-up new (international) developments in the field, in order to remain an expert in this rapidly evolving discipline
24. You will be part of cross-departmental expertise groups
25. You are co-author of scientific publications, i.e. also write scientific contributions
26. You provide information to external parties (project applicants) about the quality and availability of data and results and have an advisory role for the processing methods to be used (pipelines)
27. You take up an expertise role in the KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO) on bioinformatic applications of the team and actively develop these.
Most challenging aspects of the role:Establishing analytical workflows for single-cell (multi-)omics measurements requires a high degree of innovative reasoning, in-depth knowledge of and creativity with computational methods, strong data interpretation and problem-solving skills. Given that the field is rapidly advancing, being motivated to learn and keep track of state-of-the-art analysis methods (e.g. machine learning) will be required. High accuracy in work, close coordination and effective communication with other team members and teams will be critical to meet the goals of key biological projects.A position is available for a bioinformatician at the Center of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, in the laboratory of Prof. Thierry Voet. In this position you will be responsible for the development, implementation and application of data analysis strategies for single-cell (multi)omics. You will apply these strategies to various biological domains, ranging from human development to ageing to disease studies. By integrating highly-dimensional genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic data of individual cells using state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods we aim to answer key fundamental biological questions. The team of Prof. Thierry Voet is a highly multidisciplinary team developing and using cutting-edge molecular biology and computational methods to study single cells in human development, ageing and disease. You will play a key role in the establishment of innovative analytical pipelines for single-cell multi-omics, data analyses and interpretation. The team also contributes to leading large-scale international communities and is a founding lab of the KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics.If you can immediately take up all tasks and responsibilities of this position, you will start in grade 7. Promising candidates who cannot yet take up all responsibilities immediately or who still have to go through a specific training program start in grade 6. Grade 8 is exceptionally reserved for candidates who already at the start, because of extensive knowledge and experience, can take on extra responsibilities. We offer a fixed-term contract of 1 year, with a real chance of extension to an open-ended contract. We aim for full-time employment.You will work in an international and dynamic environment with the most up-to-date infrastructure. KU Leuven offers a wide range of extra-legal advantages such as: hospitalisation & group insurance, free public transport, (e)-bike, discounts in local shops, ecocheques, extra holidays.