Bioinformatician (data scientist)

Job description

Join our wet-lab team as a bioinformatician turning rich, ready-to-analyze, multi-omics datasets into clear biological insights on sex differences in neurodevelopment. You will work with male and female hiPSC lines differentiated to neurons, including isogenic models that differ in X-chromosome dosage. The core of the job is end-to-end analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA-seq (including allele-resolution), ChIP-seq, quantitative proteomics and pulldown proteomics, followed by integration across datasets to understand X-chromosome regulation and its impact on disease phenotypes. You will be collaborating daily with a PhD student and two technicians. You will also connect with the departmental bioinformatics team.

Research Project


The research project studies X-linked neurodevelopmental disorders (including Rett syndrome and TOKAS) using patient and control hiPSC-derived neurons. The aim is to identify genes and mechanisms that control X-chromosome inactivation in females and to explain sex differences observed across neurodevelopmental disorders. Your analyses will directly inform the next experiment and the story we write together.

Tasks and responsibilities


Your tasks and responsibilities as a bioinformatic scientist involves managing the group’s data, perform bioinformatics analyses and support projects led by a PhD student and two technicians. The candidate is expected to stay up to date with new developments and methodologies in the field. Specific tasks will include:

• Build, run and document robust analysis pipelines for RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and proteomics.
• ​​​​​​​Perform analysis and data visualisation; report results in lab and department meetings.
• Integrate genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic data to generate testable mechanistic hypotheses on X-chromosome regulation, the molecular basis of X-linked neurodevelopmental disorders, and sex differences.
• Coordinate data storage and access for the group, ensuring reproducibility and open-science practices (data and code).
• Support figure preparation and methods for manuscripts.

More information about the research activities of the lab can be found at:


https://amazingerasmusmc.com/molecular-genetics/cristina-gontan-pardo-i…

Work environment

You will join the Gontan Group in the Department of Developmental Biology at Erasmus MC, the largest university hospital in the Netherlands, based in Rotterdam; a modern, vibrant, and multicultural city. Our group focuses on human X-chromosome inactivation and X-linked neurodevelopmental disorders, using male and female hiPSC models. 

Day to day, you’ll work closely with one PhD student and two technicians in a friendly, highly collaborative lab. We regularly host visiting PhD and Masterstudents and partner with several international groups. You’ll join lab meetings, journal clubs, and cross-lab discussions, with access to excellent core facilities and up-to-date equipment.

Erasmus MC brings research, education, and healthcare under one roof. The Department of Developmental Biology studies the epigenetic mechanisms that guide cell-fate decisions and applies this knowledge to X-linked disease, cancer, and infertility. Within this setting, the Gontan Group offers a practical, supportive place to do rigorous science, and to see your analyses directly shape experiments and manuscripts.

We also care about your development. You’ll have clear opportunities to keep up with your education through courses and conference attendance, and if you wish, by contributing to supervising students.

Qualifications and skills

To qualify for this position you are motivated, detail-oriented and organized. Moreover, you are a pro-active and selfcritical problem solver with the ability to work both individually and in multidisciplinairy/multicultural teams. You also recognize yourself in the following description:

• BSc or MSc in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a life-science field with strong computational skills.
• Proven experience in omics data analysis with solid biological insight.
• Strong statistics and experience building computational tools/pipelines.
• Proficient with the command line and programming.
• Clear, intuitive data visualization for presentations and publications.
• Excellent English, spoken and written.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• Contract: Temporary appointment for 1 year, with possible extension based on performance and funding.
• Salary: Gross monthly €3.064,- up to €4.340,- (scale 7M), in line with Dutch UMC salary scales for 36 hours.
• Year-end bonus: 13th month paid in November.
• Travel: Individual travel expense package.
• Relocation/support: International Office to help prepare your arrival and stay.
• Pension: ABP pension; employer contributes ~2/3 of the monthly premium.
• On-site wellbeing: In-company physiotherapist and bicycle repair service.
• Fitness: Access to an on-site gym to exercise after work.
  
  
   

More information

Start date: as soon as possible, by mutual agreement.

Submit your CV, a motivation letter, and contact details for two references.

No agencies please.