Bioinformatician - Plant Genomics - #151264

Who we are:

At Wild Bio we are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Our proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild-enhanced crops can simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton-scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re eager to join a high-growth start-up with enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on.

Wild Bio is a well-funded, fast-paced Oxford University spin-out working from state-of-the-art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. We are an early-stage start-up about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for an experienced, driven, and curious Bioinformatician in Plant Genomics to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in.

The role:

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Bioinformatician adept in the mining and analysis of large-scale diverse -omic datasets to derive functional insights that inform the design of yield-boosting traits. The ideal candidate will be eager to apply their broad bioinformatics expertise to our multi-disciplinary projects. Candidates with specific expertise, or a strong motivation to learn, in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: de novo transcriptome assembly, mining genomic data to identify novel regulatory DNA, and the application of machine learning (ML) / artificial intelligence (AI) to comparative genomic or other -omic analyses. The successful candidate will play a key role in creating, curating, and mining deep -omic datasets to generate insights for developing the world’s highest-performing crops.

Your qualifications:

• An advanced degree (e.g. Ph.D.) in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, or a related field.
• Broad bioinformatics experience with demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas:
• De novo transcriptome assembly and annotation
• Mining genomic data to identify novel regulatory DNA (e.g. promoters, enhancers, insulators)
• Application of ML/AI techniques to complex genomic analyses
• Demonstrated ability to create, curate, integrate, and mine diverse -omic datasets (e.g., genomic, transcriptomic, protein sequence data) for biological insights.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with an ability to think creatively to meet goals and deadlines.
• Fluency in Python and comfortable working in Linux/Unix.
• Proficient in working with Git and Github.
• Experience in creating data/bioinformatics pipelines using workflow orchestrators (e.g. Snakemake or Nextflow).
• Experience working in plant science, or with data from non-model species.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team that includes wet lab scientists.
• Be excited to seek out new opportunities to develop, share learnings with others, and strive to support others in their own development and growth.

What you will do:

As a Bioinformatics Engineer in our Trait Design Team, you will be at the forefront of leveraging genomic insights for crop improvement. You will:

• Lead the development of our NGS pipelines, including establishing novel de novo transcriptome assembly and annotation pipeline(s) for diverse non-model and ‘Wild’ plant species.
• Curate, integrate and perform in-depth analyses of large-scale -omic datasets from both in-house experiments and public repositories.
• Identify and characterise novel genetic targets, including genes, alleles, and regulatory DNA, crucial for the design of enhanced traits to improve crop performance.
• Design and execute comparative genomic and evolutionary analyses to uncover valuable genetic diversity and understand gene family evolution relevant to key agricultural traits.
• Collaborate closely and proactively with our experimental biology team to co-design experiments, interpret -omic datasets, and translate computational findings into actionable molecular insights for trait development.
• Champion scientific excellence and continuous improvement by staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in bioinformatics, computational biology, AI/ML in genomics, and plant science; evaluating and implementing new tools and methods, and actively contributing to a culture of innovation and knowledge-sharing within the team.

Benefits:

• Training and development opportunities
• Opportunity to work with cutting edge science
• Regular company socials
• Team meals including breakfast on a Monday and lunch each Friday, creating opportunities for informal networking and team bonding
• Flexible working opportunities
• Group life cover x 3 of base salary
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Complimentary refreshments throughout the week

Location:

We’re headquartered in Milton Park, a business and technology park in Oxfordshire. While we embrace flexible and hybrid working, we are also a small, fast-paced team working on cutting-edge science, and we believe that the collaborative energy, rapid iteration, and strong team bonds forged through in-person interaction are crucial for our early-stage success and innovation. Therefore, we ask applicants to be able to work on-site at least three days a week to maximise our collective impact.

The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK or indicate if sponsorship is required.