Northumbria University Research Fellowship
Research Fellow in Health and Life Sciences
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus, United Kingdom
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking to appoint a highly committed, motivated, and creative scientist to join the Northumbria University bioinformatics research group. The research will develop new data science methods that leverage the large amounts of public data from UKBiobank, dbGAP, and internal Whole Sequence data and use state-of-the-art AI/ML technologies, such as transfer learning, LASSO regression penalty, logistic regression classifier model, supervised mixture elliptical copula model combining them with Bayesian hierarchical.
The role holder will deliver an integrative 3-step Predictive framework (into a web application): you will firstly model Polygenic risk Scores (PRS) according to individuals’ heritable risk, population genetics, environment-modified, and ancestry-specific components of risk in a Bayesian hierarchical model using priors defined by LASSO regression penalty functions. Secondly, you will refine the Disease Risk Prediction according to the computed individuals’ PRS, clinical parameters, family history of the disease, genetic ancestry, lifestyle, and socio-demographics in a logistic regression classifier model. Thirdly, you will model a supervised mixture elliptical copula model to stratify individuals into optimal groups according to the predicted risk.
The researcher will evaluate the portability and transferability
of the developed Predictive framework by leveraging large Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) data of prostate cancer, Cardiometabolic traits from UKBiobank, dbGAP, as well as joint replacement patient data. The developed predictive framework will be deployed into a web application linked to Cloud Computing resources. The researcher will closely work with Prof. Emile R. Chimusa.FURTHER INFORMATION: Click here to view the job description.
This role is fixed term for 36 months until November 2026.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The role-holder will be based at Northumbria University, City Campus, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Science. You will closely work with the Principal Investigator (Professor Emile R. Chimusa). Travelling and attending subject specialist meetings and national/international conferences will be required. The nature of the post is such that the role-holder is expected to work and attend at the University’s premises such hours as are reasonably necessary for the effective discharge of the duties of the role, within a normal working week of 37 hours. The department has strength in life science research, state-of-the-art multi-omics laboratories that generate data-intensive biological resources, and a strong track record of public and industrial funding.
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in the role you will have:
- A PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistical genetics, genomics data science, or related subject.
- Good understanding of polygenic risk scores (PRS) analysis, and AI/ML/Bayesian models.
- Excellent critical programming in Python and R, and large-scale genomic data analytic skills.
- Ability to develop web applications, and databases (e.g. in PostgreSQL) and handle DevCloud.
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams.
- Authorship in peer-reviewed literature.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Click here to view the person specification.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact [email protected].
To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV (including link to your contribution in developing tool, software, or databases and 5 publications pertinent to this role).
ABOUT Northumbria University
At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create, and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold.
Awarded the title of University of the Year in the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards, Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence.
Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now ranked top 25 for this measure.
One of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries, filled with world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and students at the heart of an outstanding experience, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university. Discover more about us.
Northumbria University is a great place to work. We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work-life balance. We offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more.
Northumbria University Research Fellowship
OUR NORTHUMBRIA VALUES:
- Academic Excellence
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- Collaboration
- Ambition
SEO KEYWORDS: Research Fellow, Health and Life Sciences, Newcastle, United Kingdom, Northumbria University, Bioinformatics, Data Science, AI/ML, Bayesian Models, Computational Biology, Genomics, Web Application, Genome-wide Association Studies, Prostate Cancer, Cardiometabolic Traits, Joint Replacement, Professor Emile R. Chimusa, University of the Year.
