Microbial Genomes Project Leader

About the Team

Are you ready to shape how the world discovers and uses microbial genomic data? EMBL-EBI is looking for a Microbial Genomes Project Leader to unite the microbial genome activities of Ensembl and MGnify, two world-class platforms at the forefront of genomics.

This role spans the fascinating and impactful worlds of bacterial, fungal, and protist genomics, covering major pathogens of plants, animals, and humans. You will be working with some of the largest genomic collections available, including Ensembl’s microbial dataset and MGnify’s microbiome data from diverse environments such as oceans, soils and beyond. You will also have the opportunity to shape the establishment of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) portal. 

Your role:

• Unify & enhance microbial genome resources across EMBL-EBI.
  

• Collaborate with the Ensembl and MGnify teams to push the boundaries of structural, functional, and comparative annotations that are currently provided. This will involve working with research teams at EMBL-EBI, to adopt the latest developments from the field.
  

• Build synergies across EMBL-EBI resources containing microbial data and help establish our next-generation AMR Portal.
  

• Work with the global research community to deliver uniformly processed, richly annotated genomes to scientists everywhere.
  

• Innovate in scaling resources and developing smarter ways for users to discover and explore data.
  

This is your chance to lead a project with global scientific impact, collaborate with top bioinformaticians and microbiologists, and directly contribute to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges in health, agriculture, and the environment.

Duties & Responsibilities 

In this role you will:

• Drive the development and delivery of our platforms – orchestrate regular releases for microbial data in Ensembl and MGnify, working closely with other project leaders, bioinformaticians, and web developers. This will involve databases (MySQL), data stores (Apache Parquet), code development (Python, Nextflow), and the utility of our high-performance computing (Slurm) to deliver our data resources.
  

• Lead and inspire a team of 3–4 talented bioinformaticians, guiding large-scale microbial projects ranging from annotating fungal genomes to clustering vast bacterial datasets. You’ll be the go-to contact for microbial initiatives within EBI, championing their visibility and impact.
  

• Shape the user experience by collaborating with web developers to roll out innovative features, such as cutting-edge k-mer-based searching, to help scientists explore data in new ways.
  

• Build strategic bridges with other EMBL-EBI teams (ENA, Expression Atlas, UniProt, GeneBuild, Automation), academic partners, and research institutes worldwide, ensuring collaboration thrives and duplication of effort is avoided.
  

• Be the voice of the project, from authoring papers and securing grants to delivering talks at international conferences and translating complex science for audiences ranging from expert panels to the public.
  

• Connect across EMBL by aligning with initiatives like the Microbial Ecosystems Transversal Theme to strengthen microbial science across the organisation.
  

• Empower the community through training workshops and courses with Ensembl Outreach, EMBL Training, and Wellcome Connecting Science, equipping researchers with the skills to make the most of microbial data.
  

• Monitor emerging trends in microbiology, parasitology and metagenomics, influencing strategic direction, and adopting new approaches.
  

You have (Requirements) 

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computer science or life sciences, or  5+ years of relevant work experience

• Three years programming/bioinformatics experience

• Experience in project and/or team management. Advanced knowledge of at least one modern programming language

• Familiarity with relational database management systems; specific experience with MySQL 

• Knowledge of Git, Linux, Nextflow, job scheduling systems such as Slurm

• Experience working with high volumes of genomic data, with the ability to balance scalability and feature development

• Knowledge of popular bioinformatics software and file formats

• Outstanding communication skills, written and verbal. Strong relationship management skills

• Strong proven experience in collaboration. Effective organisational and time-management skills

Behaviours

• A flexible mind-set and a commitment to the delivery of a high-quality public services

• Ability to work independently and prioritise competing tasks

• Strong team player; working together to reach common goals; sharing information and supporting colleagues.

• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering a collaborative, respectful, and innovative environment.

• Champion open-science by advocating best practices in data management and FAIR principles, ensuring microbial data is reusable, reproducible, and impactful.

You might also have (Desirable)

• Experience in grant writing, or in producing peer-reviewed publications

• Three years experience working in a service-oriented environment

• Familiarity with agile methodologies

• Awareness or exposure to EMBL-EBI data repositories

• Interest or knowledge of microbial biology

Other helpful information 

Hybrid Working: At EMBL-EBI we are pleased to offer hybrid working options for all our employees. Our team work at least two days on site, but if you prefer to work more in the office space is available! 

Interviews: We plan to hold interviews  with selected candidates remotely. 

Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years)

Salary: Grade 7 monthly salary starting at £4,206 per month after tax but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus generous benefits.

Why join us

Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
 

Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.  Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns 

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant (if required)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances

• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here. 

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.  

• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities. 

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date