Connectionists: Research Associate in Bioinformatics and Machine Learning

[C Campbell]

Research Associate in Bioinformatics and Machine Learning

The University of Bristol offers a position of post-doctoral Research
Associate in a project focused on the development and use of methods from
machine learning and bioinformatics, to devise improved predictors for
estimating the functional impact of genetic variation in human disease.

Rapid developments in next-generation sequencing technologies have led to a
substantial increase in identified genetic variants, which may be
implicated in human disease. The core application focus of the project is
to construct and use algorithmically-based methods for predicting the
functional consequences of genetic variation. A recent publication, H.A.
Shihab et al. Bioinformatics doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/btv009 (2015) gives
an impression of the project. This paper is a successor to earlier
published projects centred on FATHMM, a widely used tool, embedded in
various external packages and which is used to predict pathogenic sequence
variants.  We expect to extend this study in many directions including
devising disease-specific predictors and devising predictors for other
types of genetic variation.

In addition to this application core, the Research Associate should be
interested in the development of improved machine-learning based
methodology for handling problems specific to the application domain. This
includes new methods for handling label noise, improved methods for data
integration, handling missing values and a range of other issues.

The Research Associate should therefore have a strong background in machine
learning, statistics or bioinformatics. He or she should be capable of
developing novel methodology in addition to having a keen interdisciplinary
interest in the given medical application domain.

The appointee will work with Dr. Colin Campbell, Director of the
Intelligent Systems Laboratory, University of Bristol and Dr. Tom Gaunt who
heads bioinformatics in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) of the
University of Bristol, in addition to other researchers.

The Research Assistant will be hosted within the Intelligent Systems
Laboratory (http://intelligentsystems.bristol.ac.uk/) of the University of
Bristol. The ISL has 17 staff members and about 50 postdoctoral researchers
and research students and pursues a broad programme of research across
machine learning, bioinformatics and related disciplines.  The Research
Associate will also collaborate closely with researchers in the MRC
Integrative Epidemiology Unit which houses more than 70 researchers from a
wide range of disciplines. The broad programme of research in the IEU spans
genetics, epigenetics, epidemiology, bioinformatics and biostatistics in
the context of human health.

The position requires a PhD degree and excellent skills in programming
(e.g. Python, C++, R, MATLAB) and mathematics.

This post is offered on a full time, fixed term for 36 months with a
desired start date of 1st June 2015, by arrangement.
The deadline for applications is 5pm (UK time), on ***Friday 3rd April
2015***.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr. Colin Campbell
C.Campbell at bristol.ac.uk or Dr. Tom Gaunt Tom.Gaunt at bristol.ac.uk

Further details are available at: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs with job reference
code ACAD101293.

Appointment may be either on a fixed term or a permanent contract depending
on the extent of previous relevant research experience, in line with the
University's Fixed Term Contract Agreement. Further information can be
found at www.bristol.ac.uk/hr/ftc/

-- 

Colin Campbell

Intelligent Systems Laboratory
Merchant Venturer's Building,
University of Bristol,
Bristol BS8 1UB,
United Kingdom

*Tel:* +44 (0) 117-33-15620

*E-mail:* C.Campbell at bristol.ac.uk
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