Job Title: Director of Genome Analytics
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford is committed to addressing humanity's most pressing challenges by reimagining how science and technology transform into solutions that make a global impact. With a focus on innovation across high-stakes areas including health and medical science, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate change, clean energy, and government innovation in an AI-driven era, EIT Oxford integrates pioneering research with practical implementation to deliver high-impact, sustainable results.
At the core of EIT Oxford's vision is a significant investment in a world-class research and development facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This 300,000-square-foot campus will feature cutting-edge research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative educational spaces. These resources will bolster EIT Oxford's partnership with the University of Oxford, creating an environment where groundbreaking research transitions seamlessly into real-world applications. The new facility will also serve as the home for Ellison Scholars, advancing EIT Oxford's mission to generate societal benefit through science.
Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT's dedication to transformative science. It seeks to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. This initiative is building a global, "Always On" pathogen metagenomics system designed to enhance diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatment through antimicrobial resistance profiling. Enabled by Oracle Inc.'s cloud-computing scale and security, the Pathogen Mission is advancing toward certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organizations worldwide.
Job Summary:
We are seeking an accomplished Director of Genome Analytics to lead computational and statistical analyses of genomic data, focusing on applications in pathogen and human genomics. Reporting to Principal Scientist Professor Gil McVean, this role is pivotal in developing cutting-edge tools and methodologies that drive advancements in individual-level diagnosis and population-health solutions, particularly related to the emergence and spread of novel pathogens.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop, benchmark and maintain the EIT Pathogen Mission's tool chain for data QC, data harmonisation, processing of read-level data from relevant technologies for downstream analysis (e.g. kmer, de Bruijn graphs, assembly), and statistical analysis (e.g. association testing, host-pathogen interactions, epidemiology).
- Identify and find innovative solutions to gaps in capabilities and performance, and opportunities for improvements and major innovation.
- Deliver scientific code to the Technology Team to a technical standard that can easily be integrated into products that meet regulatory standards, while not working to ISO standards directly.
- Work with the EIT AI team to drive programs to establish leapfrog innovation as relating to EIT Pathogen Mission's needs.
- Lead on the development of a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications to disseminate and benchmark performance for innovations.
- Present at international scientific conferences, demonstrating thought leadership within the community.
- Recruit and lead a team of scientists and scientific developers to deliver the program.
- Work with the Senior Leadership Team of the EIT Pathogen Mission to establish the strategy and objectives for the program.
Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- A strong track record of leading the development of innovative computational methods as applied to population-scale genomic data, working at both the levels of genome technology and applications, as evidence by academic publications or software.
- Understanding of current best-practice in the QC, manipulation and analysis of large genomic data sets, with first-hand experience of solving problems relating to data quality or standardisation.
- Experience of leading a team of scientific developers that work to best practice (e.g. agile practices, collaborative coding, documentation, testing and version control).
- Experience of designing and executing studies to benchmark performance of computational tools in genomics, including considerations of statistical power.
- Experience of identifying, recruiting and working with academic and/or industry partners to accelerate programs.
- Experience of recruiting and running a team of scientists and scientific developers.
- Experience of working in a delivery-focused environment, with a proven track record in completing programs on time and to budget.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Experience of working with whole genome sequencing data in the context of microbiology applications.
- Direct experience of working with Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology.
- Experience of epidemiological modelling or genome association studies.
Key Attributes:
- Innovative Technical Leadership
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement advanced computational tools for large-scale genomic data analysis, driving innovation and overcoming technical challenges.
- Strategic Visionary Thinking
- Strong capacity to define and execute a strategic roadmap aligning with organizational goals, anticipating future needs, and identifying opportunities for leapfrog advancements.
- Team Building and Leadership
- Proven success in recruiting, mentoring, and managing diverse teams of scientists and developers, fostering collaboration, and maintaining high standards of performance.
- Scientific and Collaborative Excellence
- Strong track record of impactful peer-reviewed publications, effective partnerships with academia and industry, and thought leadership within the scientific community.
- Delivery-Oriented Problem Solving
- Results-driven mindset with a history of successfully completing complex, high-stakes projects on time and within budget while maintaining scientific rigor.
