https://www.embl.org/jobs/position/EBI02255
The chemical biology team at EMBL-EBI delivers world-leading databases and resources to the scientific community. Our flagship resource, ChEMBL, is a database of high-quality quantitative small-molecule bioactivity data curated from the scientific literature and direct data depositions. SureChEMBL is a complementary patent resource containing chemical structures and biology/drug discovery annotations extracted daily from patents. UniChem links chemical structures across databases.
EMBL-EBI is a world-leading bioinformatics centre that provides life sciences data to the scientific community, performs basic research, and offers an extensive user training programme. The chemical biology team comprises an international and inter-disciplinary mix of professional scientists, informaticians, data scientists and software engineers.
This position is for an ambitious scientist with a passion for open data who wants to lead the development of these critical resources and significantly impact how the scientific community archives and re-uses chemical biology data. We need an inspiring and engaging leader who understands the importance of teamwork and is focused on delivering key tasks.
Your role
As Chemical Biology Resources Team Leader, you will develop the strategy and long-term vision for the chemical biology resources to serve the needs of researchers, data scientists, funders and the wider public. You will be responsible for managing the chemical biology and chemogenomics data resources at both a technical and scientific level and will ensure the appropriate integration of these data resources with the EMBL-EBI’s other activities. You will represent EMBL-EBI and the chemical biology team at international meetings and in consortia and work with the EMBL-EBI training team to contribute to workshops, courses and scientific conferences. You will interact and engage with members of the EMBL-EBI industry programme and Open Targets, our flagship public-private collaboration.
You will have direct responsibility for managing personnel within the team (21 staff members at present). You will also seek external funding for the resources to contribute to long-term sustainability and enable new developments in this area to ensure these resources maintain their world-leading status in the scientific community.
As part of the role, you will:
- Have overall responsibility for the vision, leadership and management of EMBL-EBI’s chemical biology resources and databases
- Ensure the continued high quality of the data in these resources and that they are regularly released and updated.
- Ensure the technical sustainability of chemical biology resources through the use of appropriate software/computational capabilities and algorithms; also seek opportunities to gain efficiencies through the use of shared code/algorithms/tools within these resources and with other relevant resources at the EMBL-EBI
- Direct/indirect line management of staff within the chemical biology services team
- Engage with the broader scientific community from academia and industry to ensure that EBI’s chemical biology resources remain world-leading and, in particular are “AI/ML ready.”
- Seek new opportunities to further enhance EBI’s chemical biology resources, for example through the use of AI/ML
- Work with strategic partners (e.g. Open Targets, SGC, EMBL) to fully exploit opportunities to use chemical biology resources and to further enhance their content and utility.
- Actively promote EBI’s chemical biology resources through attendance at scientific conferences, workshops, EBI’s industry programme, scientific publications, social media, etc.
Closing date: 19 July 2024
- Contract duration: 5 years (renewable to a maximum of 9 years)
- Grading: Grade 9 – (monthly salary starting at £5,596 after tax but excl. pension & insurances) + other paid benefits based on personal circumstances
- Reference number: EBI02255
You have
Education & Qualifications
- PhD in cheminformatics/computational chemistry/ drug discovery/chemical biology/pharmacology
Professional Experience
- At least 10 years’ experience as user and/or provider of chemical biology and bioactivity data and in the practical applications of such data
- Broad knowledge of major informatics resources relevant to chemical biology and drug discovery
- Knowledge and appreciation of multiple aspects of pre-clinical drug discovery (e.g. target selection, hit generation, lead optimisation, safety, ADME)
- Practical line-management experience including goal-setting, annual reviews/appraisals, recruitment, career development
Functional Competencies & Technical Skills
- Knowledge and practical experience working with:
- chemical structure data and formats
- drug discovery bioactivity data
- Knowledge of scientific ontologies relevant to drug discovery
- Understanding and appreciation of data curation approaches
- Practical experience in software development, database design, user experience approaches
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Self-motivated with a drive for quality
- Excellent communication skills, verbal/written
- Strong team player but able to advocate own position
- Able to travel to external meetings as required
You might also have
- A track record of visible contributions to the scientific community e.g. publications, conference presentations, panel memberships, journal editorship
- Knowledge of machine learning and AI
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.
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 to eight bank 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 more details please see our employee benefits page.
What else you need to know
- Contract duration: 5 years (renewable to a maximum of 9 years)
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
- How to apply: In your application letter (no more than 2 pages), please demonstrate how you fit the essential requirements and any desirable qualifications, explaining how these will be applied in your new role.
- Interviews: If invited for an interview you will be asked to give a brief (15-minute) presentation that demonstrates your previous experience, what you would bring to the role (5 minutes), your approach and vision for leading the development of the Chemical biology team, and what you think the challenges will be (10 minutes). Interviews will be virtual and take place on the w/c 5th August 2024.
- Closing date: 19th July 2024
For questions or issues with the application process, please contact recruitment@ebi.ac.uk