General Inquiries
If you’re interested in joining our team as a graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, please email your CV and cover letter outlining your research topic(s) of interest to our Research Manager, Tanya Erb [tanya.erb@bcchr.ca]
Specific Positions
The Kobor Lab is seeking a highly motivated and ambitious Bioinformatician to work on various projects related to understanding the causes and consequences of variation in epigenetic marks across human populations. The successful applicant will be responsible for leading and contributing to a number of existing funded projects. These include population cohort studies that focus on the genomic embedding of early-life experiences in relationship to development and health across the lifespan. This work involves the acquisition of high-dimension datasets for genotyping, DNA methylation and mRNA expression and their integrative analysis with phenotype and environmental exposures.
The ideal applicant will possess a curiosity and passion for science, a talent for independent research, extensive knowledge of statistical genomics and/or epigenetics / gene regulation, and experience with bioinformatics.
Primary Responsibilities
- Perform statistical and bioinformatics analyses of high-throughput epigenomics and genotyping data to facilitate the interpretation of associations between molecular data with environment, stress and disease
- Collaborate actively with others across the CMMT, UBC, and BCCRHI to problem solve and provide clarity on the application of bioinformatics approaches to understanding epigenetics, from molecular analysis in model organisms to population-scale studies of human epigenetic variation
- Ensure the integrity of data in bioinformatics databases by performing quality control and working closely with other research personnel and collaborators on such issues
- Evaluate the methods for the capture and transmission of epigenetic data and make recommendations for the bioinformatics integration with related large datasets to derive higher order principles
- Participate in meetings and phone/video conferences as project lead for multiple collaborations with local, national, and international groups on diverse projects related to children’s mental and physical health
- Contribute to writing scientific manuscripts
- Maintain and develop up-to-date knowledge of current information technology techniques and tools, especially as they apply to bioinformatics analysis
Qualifications
- A minimum of an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (genetics, computational biology, bioinformatics, bio-statistics), and a minimum of two years of experience in laboratory research involving genome technologies infrastructure, with knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and epigenetics
- Proficiency in at least one programming language (R preferred)
- Experience in writing executable R scripts, and debugging code
- Experience working with DNA methylation, genotyping, expression, and/or multi-dimensional genomics or population data. Knowledge with the development of novel packages/analysis pipelines
- Intermediate to high level understanding of statistical modeling and tests
- Experience with cluster computing and working in a Unix environment would be an asset
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Tanya.Erb@bcchr.ca
Collaboration Opportunities
Our team has extensive experience with both small and large-scale human cohort studies focusing on environmental exposures and health outcomes across the lifespan.
We primarily work with the following assays:
• DNA methylation: Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC Array
• Genotyping: Illumina Infinium Global Screening Array-24 v2.0
If you have a cohort of interest and are interested in collaborating with us, please contact our Research Manager, Tanya Erb. [tanya.erb@bcchr.ca]