UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
biobank.cy
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN BIOBANKING AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
VACANT POSITION FOR A SPECIAL SCIENTIST – BIOINFORMATICS SUPPORT

Title: Special Scientist – Bioinformatics Support
Number of positions: One (1)
Category: Contract for 2 years, with potential for renewal
Place of employment: University of Cyprus, Nicosia

The biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research of the University of Cyprus has one opening for a Special Scientist, funded by the research program: Biobanking and the Cyprus Human Genome Project (CY-Biobank), which is co-funded by the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus and the University of Cyprus. Depending on needs and objectives, the funding of the position may be also from other sources.
biobank.cy Center of Excellence

Established in 2019, the biobank.cy is developing the first Biobank in Cyprus while it aspires to foster frontline research on human genetic diseases and offer better prospects for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy, in the framework of precision medicine.

Required Qualifications:
We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Bioinformatician to join our team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in supporting various projects by providing expertise in bioinformatics, organizing project-related activities, and facilitating communication among team members.

The candidate must have/be:
• Master's degree in Bioinformatics or a related subject (e.g., Computational Biology, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, etc.).
• Proficiency in programming such as R, Python, or Perl
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Experience with genomics data analysis tools and databases (e.g., NCBI, Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser), can perform data mining and extract interconnecting relevant knowledge from ontologies and databases.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Familiarity with IT infrastructure and software applications used in bioinformatics research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Candidate Profile:
The candidate should be creative, enthusiastic, and passionate about research. A candidate with previous experience in a similar position, who also has proven qualifications and the ability to take initiative, will be preferred.

Responsibilities:
The candidate will work closely with other researchers regarding:

Bioinformatics Analysis:
• Perform bioinformatics analyses on genomics and other omics data.
• Utilize statistical methods and machine learning techniques for data analysis and visualization.

Project Organization:
• Coordinate and attend meetings for different bioinformatics and IT-related projects.
• Take comprehensive notes during meetings and ensure timely dissemination of meeting minutes.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to ensure the timely completion of tasks.

IT Skills and Support:
• Provide IT support for bioinformatics software installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Maintain and update computational infrastructure and databases.
• Collaborate with IT team members to optimize workflows and enhance data security.

Communication and Collaboration:
• Serve as a liaison between research teams, collaborators, and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication among team members by fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Engage in knowledge sharing and contribute to the development of best practices in bioinformatics and project management.

Terms of employment
The position is for a two-year full-time contract with the possibility of renewal depending on funding. Funding may be from the CY-Biobank project or from projects funded from other sources, depending on actual needs.
The monthly gross earnings will range depending on qualifications from €1800-€2500. Employee contributions will be deducted from this amount. The program does not provide for the payment of the 13th salary.

Submission of applications:
• A letter expressing interest in the position with a brief description of qualifications relevant to the opening (1 page).
• A brief Curriculum Vitae with a description of previous experience (3 pages).
• Copies of degrees.
• Contact details of at least two people qualified to provide references upon request.
• Certificates attesting to the good knowledge of the Greek and English language, unless this is attested by the mother tongue of the candidate or he/she is a graduate of a greek/english school/University.

At least the best three candidates that satisfy the required qualifications, will be interviewed by a 3-member Committee. Candidates shall be informed of the result of their application by the relevant entity. The University of Cyprus shall collect and process your personal data according to the provisions of the General Regulation on Personal Data 2016/679 (EU).
The University of Cyprus (UCY) is committed to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equality, as well as the elimination of all forms of discrimination in order to provide a fair, safe, and pleasant environment for the entire university community, where students and staff members will feel supported both in their professional and personal development, within and beyond their multiple identities. To this end, UCY seeks to create the necessary conditions that will encourage and respect diversity and ensure dignity both in the workplace and society at large. Moreover, UCY has adopted specific policies to promote equal opportunities, as well as respect and understanding of diversity, while it is committed to promoting and maintaining a working, teaching, and learning environment, free from any form of discrimination, whether direct or indirect.
Applicants need not be citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Applicants should however ensure, before applying, that in case they are selected they will be residing in Cyprus on a full-time basis during the employment period. Submission of application implies acceptance of this condition.
The application material should be sent electronically as one single pdf file to biobank@ucy.ac.cy , at the latest until May 31st 2024.
For more information the candidates may contact the biobank.cy Center of Excellence by phone at +357 22892815 or by email at biobank@ucy.ac.cy.