Senior research engineer: Machine Learning in Data-Driven Life Science
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
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Senior research engineer: Machine Learning in Data-Driven Life Science
As a national hub for molecular biosciences in Sweden, SciLifeLab develops and maintains unique research infrastructure, services and data resources for life science. The overall aim of SciLifeLab is to facilitate cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary life science research and promote its translation to the benefit of society. About 200 research groups, 1500 researchers and 40 national infrastructure units are associated with SciLifeLab, with two main centers located in Stockholm and Uppsala, but with national SciLifeLab units at all major Swedish universities.
The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) is a 12-year initiative that focuses on data-driven research, within fields essential for improving people’s lives, detecting and treating diseases, protecting biodiversity and creating sustainability. The program will train and recruit the next generation of data-driven life scientists and create strong and globally competitive computational and data science capabilities in Swedish life science. The program aims to strengthen national collaborations between universities, bridge the research communities of life and data sciences, and create partnerships with industry, healthcare and other national and international actors.
The DDLS program is establishing a national Data Science Node in “Epidemiology and Biology of Infections” at Umeå university with a national responsibility to develop data services and to provide advanced data analytics support. We are now looking for an outstanding candidate, to help explore molecular, clinical and/or epidemiological data in research projects aiming to increase our understanding of the emergence, prevalence, spread and treatment of infectious disease.
The Data Science Node staff will be well integrated with the local research community, but also connected to the SciLifeLab Data Centre and the SciLifeLab Bioinformatics Platform (National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, NBIS), a unique national infrastructure with over 120 experts, providing advanced bioinformatics support, infrastructure and training to the Swedish life science research community and participating in international collaborations.
Your future workplace
The Department of Plant Physiology hosts the largest bioinformatic section of Umeå university with over 20 bioinformaticians and the Swedish Metabolomic Facility. You will work in a strong group of bioinformaticians that both help other scientists with analysis and are developing the field themselves. The bioinformatic group works with projects from all fields of life science.
The department is part of the Umeå Plant Science Centre with a total of over 200 scientists in more than 35 research groups and with a strong, multi-disciplinary, collaborative and expanding research. We are also a strong partner in The Chemical-Biological Centre (KBC), a life science hub that hosts several national instrument and technology platforms. For more information about working at Umeå University: www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/.
Main responsibilities
You will apply, adapt and develop machine learning approaches and advanced statistical methods to provide data analysis support to data-driven Swedish research projects of scientific excellence, as well as being a driver of advanced data analytics postgraduate training on a national level.The main responsibilities are to:
- Carry out advanced data analyses within nationally prioritized data-driven life science projects, using state-of-the-art machine learning tools applied to large-scale molecular (omics), imaging, clinical and/or epidemiological data.
- Develop and implement necessary tools and workflows for such analyses.
- Educate other life scientists across Sweden in advanced data analytics through collaboration within supported projects, advanced national courses, and consultations.
- Engage in the continuous development and improvement of the DDLS program, the Data Science Node, and the SciLifeLab Bioinformatics platform.
Qualification requirements
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with strong skills in applied AI/machine learning, to provide advanced data analysis support to Swedish life science research projects of scientific excellence. The successful candidate has
(i) PhD in Biotechnology, Engineering, Physics or equivalent.
(ii) Extensive (3+ years) experience of applying and/or developing advanced AI or machine learning methods.
(iii) Programming knowledge in Python, including knowledge of common data science tools such as Numpy, Pandas and Matplotlib, and version control using Git.
(iv) Experience using modern deep learning frameworks (such as PyTorch or Tensorflow)
(v) Very good oral and written communication skills in English
(vi) Strong skills in cooperation and communication
Additional qualifications
Relevant postdoctoral studies or industry experience are a strong merit but not a requirement. Experience in working with real world large scale life science data is a strong merit. Experience of research or development connected to epidemiology and/or biology of infections or other public health questions is a strong merit. Experience in either machine learning management systems such as Azure ML, machine learning workflow-engines such as MLFlow/Airflow/Metaflow, or data storage, databases, and structures for large data volumes is also a merit. “Reproducible research” and “FAIR data” are central concepts to us, and expertise in the development of reproducible code by using code sharing platforms, workflow languages and container solutions is a merit.
Terms of employment
The employment is full-time and permanent. Probationary employment for 6 months may be applied. Starting date 2023-10-01 or according to agreement.
Application
Your application should contain
- A personal letter, max 2 pages, including a motivation for why you want to join this effort
- CV with publication list
- Doctoral degree certificate
You apply via our recruitment system Varbi. Last application date is 2023-08-23.
The Department of Plant Physiology carries out research and postgraduate education in different fields of the plant sciences including, ecology, biochemistry, physiology and development, and genomics. The department is part of the Umeå Plant Science Centre, which hosts close to 200 employees and 40 principal investigators, representing about 35 nationalities. For more information please visit http://www.plantphys.umu.se/english/ and http://www.upsc.se.
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