Research Scientist (OSSARI)

Research Scientist at the Ocean Science and Solutions Applied Research Institute

The NEOM project is being built from the ground up as a living laboratory incorporating sustainable cities, sustainable industries, communities, and high quality of living throughout, with technology-based companies and services in energy, water, health and well-being, education, transport, sport, entertainment, and other fields. Tourism will be a major economic driver or NEOM and will be an important sector in developing the potential of this new world destination. As an innovation focused location for new industries, NEOM will also rely heavily on the strength of its key education, research, and innovation ecosystem.

The NEOM Education, Research, and Innovation (ERI) sector encompasses 4 Pillars: EC-12 Schools, Talent Academy (vocational and lifelong training and learning), Higher Education (NEOM U in the first instance), and the ERI Foundation and will act as a primary driver of education, knowledge creation, technology development and deployment, and talent attraction and development for the NEOM region, working in close partnership with the key employment sectors and the NEOM regions and Authority.

The ERI Foundation (ERIF) is supporting NEOM to build a world-class R&I ecosystem via several actions. Its flagship Applied Research Institutes (ARIs) bridge the gap between higher education and industry and society and work in both directions to translate concepts into at-scale-testable technologies and to identify longer-term challenges that require detailed research investigation. The ERIF is also establishing Shared Research Infrastructures (SRIs) that will be accessible to the ARIs, Higher Education Institutions, Talent Academy and researchers and innovators in companies (including start-ups) and the community. ERIF will further act as a funding agency for competitive grants to Higher Education and early-stage start-ups. It will additionally implement fellowship programs at both senior and postdoctoral levels through its Academy of International Fellows and will work to establish a strong research and innovation culture, including through research governance and oversight activities.

Three Applied Research Institutes have been approved to date: the Ocean Science and Solutions ARI (OSSARI), the Hydrogen and e-Fuels ARI (HEFARI), and the Future of Urban Livability ARI (FULARI).

OSSARI is now seeking to appoint a Research Scientist in the field of bioinformatics and machine learning. Research scientists are responsible for conducting scientific research and investigations in one of the main research lines of the Institute, working closely with the Director, Principal Investigators, postdocs, students and staff. Their work would typically include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and writing reports and articles based on the research findings. Collaboration with a variety of stakeholders including global research and innovation institutions, government agencies, companies and communities will also be required. In addition to strong scientific skills, the candidate should have excellent problem-solving and communication skills, to support team working and presentation of findings to a variety of audiences.

Key Activities

• Genome and transcriptome de-novo assembly, sequence annotation and comparison.
• Population genetics, evolutionary genetics, SNP analysis
• Development of machine learning and artificial intelligence application within the previous fields
• Training and mentoring postdoctoral and student researchers and research support staff
• Supporting visiting researchers from external partners and collaborators
• Writing reports and articles for dissemination and publication
• Contributing to the organisation and delivery of workshops, and publicity and open houses

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in the field of bioinformatics within higher education and/or industry settings with 5+ years’ experience
• Excellent programming skills in R, Python and others
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in the study and understanding of marine environments and their ecosystems
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic start-up environment and commitment to establishing a new Institut
• Team working capacity, including a sharing approach that fosters collective advancement

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, machine learning, mathematics or a closely related field
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills in English