Career Development Fellow, MRC Biostatistics Unit & European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge UK

*Career Development Fellow*
MRC Biostatistics Unit & EMBL-EBI
*Cambridge**, UK*
*Fixed Term for 3 years*

The MRC Biostatistics Unit is one of Europe’s leading biostatistics research institutions. Based less than 10 miles from the BSU, the European Bioinformatics Institute (an outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory) is a world leader in disseminating biological data to the wider scientific community and in computational biology research.
The two institutions are offering an exciting opportunity to join a team that is at the cutting edge of developments in Bayesian modelling and computations, stochastic algorithms for large data problems such as those arising in genomic and genetics, and applications in epidemiology, and health sciences.
Working jointly with the teams of Professor Sylvia Richardson at the MRC BSU and Dr John Marioni at the EMBL-EBI, you will contribute to a collaborative project, focusing on the development of statistical approaches for modelling expression data, and in particular for analysing single cell expression data. Single-cell transcriptome data will be made available via the Sanger-EBI Single-Cell Genomics Centre, whose steering committee Dr Marioni is a member of.
You will specifically undertake research into:

1. Mixed-model and latent variable approaches. The aim is to identify sets of cells whose expression profiles are sufficiently similar to suggest that they might form a (previously unidentified) cell type.
The approach developed will have to account for both technical and biological confounding effects, such as differences in cell cycle stage between cells, which might otherwise lead to inappropriate clusters being generated.
2. Spatial clustering. In some contexts it will be possible to assay the transcriptome of individual cells whose location within the tissue of interest is known. Here, the aim will be to exploit hierarchical Bayesian models to cluster the cells into groups whilst taking account of both the spatial and the quantitative information.
The methods developed will be applicable to numerous types of data in the contexts of cancer and developmental biology.

You will have a PhD in statistics, and statistical computing experience, e.g. Programming in R. Some knowledge/experience of Bayesian hierarchical modelling, of programming in C++ and of developing stochastic algorithms would be advantageous, but training can be provided. You must have good communication skills and be able to contribute substantially to writing scientific papers. The position is a 3-year Career Development Fellowship.
The MRC Biostatistics Unit aims to advance medical science by the development, application and dissemination of statistical methods. It is one of Europe’s leading biostatistics research institutions and includes many internationally renowned statisticians. It provides a privileged environment for conducting research.
The EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is a world-leading bioinformatics centre providing biological data to the scientific community with expertise in computational and statistical analysis, data storage and representation. The EBI is based on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, 10 miles south of Cambridge.
Informal enquiries can be addressed to *Sylvia Richardson* (sylvia.richardson@mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk) and *John Marioni* (marioni@ebi.ac.uk)
Starting salary will be in the range of £27,183 – £30,785 per annum, supported by a flexible pay and reward policy, 30 days annual leave entitlement, and an optional MRC final salary Pension Scheme.
Applications are handled by the RCUK Shared Services Centre; to apply please visit our job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc99392_3279.aspx and complete an online application form. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867003, please quote reference number IRC99392.
*Closing date: 9th August 2013 *
*Interview date: 10th September 2013*
This position is subject to pre-employment screening. The Medical Research Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer