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UCL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH
Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology
Experimental Officer
DH/09/06
This document sets out the following information for the post of
Experimental Officer:
Background to unit / post
Reporting Chain
Job specification
Person specification
Introduction to UCL
Terms and Conditions of Employment
General information about ICH
Details on submitting an application
UCL Institute of Child Health UCL Institute of Child Health in
30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH partnership with Great Ormond Street
Tel: +44 (0)20 7905 2742 Hospital for Children NHS rust
Fax: +44 (0)20 7405 6917 The child first and always
1. Background to the post
UCL Genomics is the central UCL resource for the dedicated provision of
genomics technologies including gene expression profiling and genotyping. UCL
Genomics unites three highly experienced UCL centres (ICH Gene Microarray
Centre and the core facilities at WIBR and Dept of Virology, Windeyer), offering
both access to advanced technology and extensive expertise in the design and
application of microarray based experiments. UCL Genomics has over 8 years
experience operating Affymetrix and Agilent platforms and have recently installed
and commissioned an Illumina iScan and BeadExpress systems. The centre
contains all the equipment necessary for the quantification and quality control of
RNA, DNA and microarrays. Experiments are designed with the assistance of the
centre with the ultimate analysis strategy in mind, and are run by experienced
applications specialists. Operation is charged at cost recovery only, providing
consistently excellent value when compared to commercial and academic
alternatives.
The post is for an applications specialist for UCL Genomics. UCL Genomics was
formed in June 2008 and is situated across 3 sites at UCL and this post will be
based in the ICH Gene Microarray Centre in the Unit of Molecular Haematology
and Cancer Biology at ICH, with an attachment to the laboratory of Prof Robert
Kleta at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. The ICH unit was established in
2000 to provide a facility for genome scale analysis of transcriptional profiles
using state-of the art equipment. Since then it has grown and now provides a
resource for over 200 research projects based at or connected to UCL. The
centre also provides advice on experimental design and interpretation and is
constantly updating its facilities, including the recent purchase of an Illumina
Beadstation and BeadExpress platform. The centre is also running an Roche GS-
FLX deep sequencer, with the likelihood of further purchases of high throughput
sequencing apparatus. The present post has arisen as a result of a need for an
applications specialist with experience of analysing data generated by our
genomics platforms, and with particular knowledge of genotype analysis methods.
The applications specialist will report to the centre manager and be responsible
for project based data analysis within the centre.
2. Reporting chain
The postholder will be responsible to Ms Nipurna Jina (Centre Manager, ICH),
then to Prof Robert Kleta (Linkage specialist, UCL Genomics), Mr Jake Raby and
Dr. Mike Hubank (co-Directors, UCL Genomics). Head of the Molecular
Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit is Dr Jonathan Ham.
3. Job Specification
Analysis and interpretation of genomic data from the UCL Genomics high
throughput genomics platforms
Communication: Responsible for communicating complex specialist
information both to the centre manager and to users of the facility orally and by e-
mail. Ability to explain concepts concisely and accurately.
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Teamwork and motivation: To work together with Prof Kleta and the centre
manager to ensure that the goals set by the co-directors of UCL Genomics are
achieved.
Service delivery: The position contains a strong element of service provision to
all the many (over 200) users of the system throughout the university and beyond.
Users require rapid, accurate, reliable and cost-effective analysis of microarrays
and it is the application specialist‟s position to ensure that this occurs to a high
standard on a day-to-day basis.
Planning and organising resources: The application specialist will be
responsible for planning and co-ordinating the analysis of multiple projects and
keeping records of their progress. Data must be analysed by the application
specialist according to the schedule provided by Prof Kleta and the manager, and
results returned efficiently. This requires reliable organisation skills.
Initiative and problem solving: Will deal with minor administrative and scientific
problems that arise in the course of the work, including technical problems with
Affymetrix, Illumina or ABI software and computer hardware, unexpected data
outcomes and administrative issues. More major issues should be recognised
and reported to the centre manager. This requires understanding of the analytical
systems involved, and experience of operating in similar conditions and solving
related problems.
Analysis and Research: The post has a strong analytical focus. The holder must
become familiar with advanced microarray and statistical analysis packages (e.g.
Bioconductor), and have the ability to apply these to interpret, annotate and
curate experimental data. The centre actively monitors new methodologies and
the application specialist will have an important role in this process.
Sensory and physical demands: The majority of time will be spent analysing
genomic data, which requires care and attention to detail.
Work environment: Responsible for co-operating with Prof Kleta and the
manager to maintain a safe local working environment in the array centre and at
Royal Free and will report all potential problems.
Knowledge and experience: Should be knowledgeable in assisting and
supporting researchers in making the most of the computing resources available
for the practicalities of genomic data analysis. This includes helping researchers
compile, install and use existing software tools; maintain a small Linux server
farm; administering a network of Windows XP computers; writing programs and
scripts to pre-process and post-process data for use with existing software tools
for both expression profiling and genotyping applications.
Liaison with service engineers
Liaise with the centre manager and with computer service engineers and be able
to explain problems arising with maintenance and system operation.
Maintain a standard operating workflow for genomic data analysis as defined by
the co-directors of UCL Genomics and by the Centre manager. Includes setting
up the infrastructure for running linkage analyses in consultation with Prof Kleta,
and ensuring that experiments are appropriately supervised and supported. The
future postholder is expected to be able to support software development for
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research in genetics, to work closely with researchers on applying and adapting
existing algorithms and programs for solving domain-specific problems.
Assist and support researchers in making the most of the computing resources
available, to help researchers compile, install and use existing software tools;
maintain a small Linux server farm, administering a network of Windows XP
computers and Linux servers, to compile applications on Unix/Linux, to write
programs and scripts to pre-process and post-process data for use with existing
software tools.
Maintain records of experimental analysis.
4. Person Specification
REQUIREMENTS
CRITERIA E/D*
1. Education/Qualific BSc in Informatics/IT or a related discipline E
ations/ Training
MSc in a IT D
D
A- level Mathematics Grade C or above
2. Skills/Abilities
Ability to take responsibility for solving day to day
problems E
Proven ability to work effectively under direction
E
Ability to understand and run linkage analysis and
D
haplotype reconstruction. Familiarity with the use
HAPmap data, SNP data, and STS datasets.
Computing skills including some of the following:
UNIX / Linux operation (setting up and maintenance
of a Linux server, compiling specialized software in an E
Linux environment); programming skills (eg
Perl/Python); XML, data processing using standard
bioinformatics applications (e.g. databases,
Bioconductor); computer maintenance.
E
Effective written and verbal communication skills
including ability to deal with users calmly but
authoritatively. E
Ability to understand and carryout duties identified by
Centre manager in an efficient and thorough manner.
3. Experience Experience in compiling, installing and using existing
software tools in an UNIX / Linux environment. E
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Experience of analysing genomics data including SNP
and expression arrays. D
Experience in the analysis of genomic data using
UNIX and Windows based applications and
D
Bioconductor packages.
Experience of Quality control of genomic data using
Expression Console or other applications D
Understanding of basic molecular biology, including
genomics, sequence analysis, protein function, and
D
basic phylogenetics.
4. Knowledge Working knowledge of the UNIX / Linux environment
(setting up and maintenance of a Linux server,
compiling specialized software in an Linux E
environment).
Working knowledge of programming (Perl / Python) at
a level enabling the writing of programs and scripts to
pre-process and post-process data for use with
E
existing software tools
Administering skills enabling the maintenance of small D
Linux / Windows computer networks.
Basic understanding of standard bioinformatics and
sequence analysis software and major protein/DNA
databases (NCBI, UCSC, Ensembl etc.) D
*E- essential; D=desirable;
INTRODUCTION TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL)
University College London is London‟s leading multidisciplinary university, with 8,000
staff and 22,000 students from over 150 countries.
Based in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome
students of any class, race or religion, and the first to welcome women on equal
terms with men. This same radical spirit thrives today.
We are now ranked seventh in the world by the Times Higher – QS World University
Rankings, and our publications in clinical medicine attract more citations from fellow
researchers than any other university outside North America. Our excellence extends
across all academic disciplines; from one of Europe‟s largest and most productive
centres for biomedical science interacting with eleven leading London hospitals, to
world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett) and fine art (UCL Slade
School).
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In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) UCL was rated the best research
university in London, and third in the UK overall, for the number of its submissions
which were considered of „world-leading quality‟. The RAE confirmed UCL‟s
multidisciplinary research strength with outstanding results achieved across the
subjects, ranging from Biomedicine, Science and Engineering, and the Built
Environment to Laws, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. UCL put forward over
1,800 submissions in 49 of the 67 Units of Assessment. In the vast majority of UCL‟s
submissions, at least 50% were ranked at either the highest grade of 4* („of world-
leading quality‟), or 3* („internationally excellent‟).
UCL FACULTY OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
UCL is one of Europe's largest and most productive centres for biomedical science.
Biomedical research is greatly enhanced by extensive collaborations with those in
the physical sciences and the humanities. The environment for clinical translation is
exceptional. The faculty consists of the Cancer Institute, Institute of Child Health (in
which this post is based), the Ear Institute, Eastman Dental Institute, the Division of
Infection and Immunity, the Division of Medical Education, the Division of Medicine,
Institute of Neurology, Institute of Ophthalmology, the Division of Population Health,
the Division of Research Strategy, Division of Surgical and Interventional Sciences,
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research and the Institute for Women's Health.
UCL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH (ICH) AND GREAT ORMOND STREET
HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN NHS TRUST (GOSH)
The UCL Institute of Child Health which, together with its clinical partner Great
Ormond Street Hospital for Children, forms the largest concentration of children‟s
health research outside North America. The joint institution‟s overall mission is to:
Improve the health and wellbeing of children, and the adults they will become,
through world-class research, education and public engagement
In support of our mission, ICH pursues an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to
enhance understanding, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of childhood disease. A
broad range of paediatric issues is covered, from molecular genetics to population
health sciences. All specialties as they relate to children‟s health are included so that
ICH fulfils the role of a world-leading academic establishment in paediatrics. In
keeping with a commitment to disease prevention, ICH is active in teaching and
research aimed at developing interventions to promote health both during childhood
and in the later years of life. This multi-disciplinary approach is necessitated by the
important principle that the child is not merely a small adult.
ICH was established in 1945 and, in 2006, joined UCL's newly-formed Faculty of
Biomedical Sciences, becoming the largest of its 14 Divisions and Institutes. ICH has
maintained a particularly close relationship with GOSH throughout its sixty-three year
existence. These close links have enabled ICH to pursue medical research in the
context of child health and disease, based upon an integrated approach of careful
clinical observation and scientific investigation. This allows an understanding of
disease mechanisms and, in turn, leads to precise diagnosis and development of
new therapies. The Institute‟s current academic structure consists of eight research
themes:
Cancer
Cardiorespiratory Sciences
General and Adolescent Paediatrics
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Genes, Development and Disease
Infection and Immunity
Neurosciences and Mental Health
Nutritional and Surgical Sciences
Population Health Sciences
In 2006, the partnership between Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Institute of
Child Health was awarded Specialist Biomedical Centre Status, under the
government‟s National Institute for Health Research initiative. This is the only
biomedical centre devoted to children‟s health, and confirms ICH and GOSH as the
UK‟s leading centre for research, education and service delivery in children‟s
medicine.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) ICH was part of a UCL return to
UoA4 in which 70% of staff were rated as of international quality (4*, 40%; 3* 30%).
In addition, ICH's return was scored as 100% 4* for both Environment and Esteem
indicators.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Duration of Employment
The appointment is funded for 3 years.
Starting Date
As soon as possible.
Salary
The starting salary for this post will be £28,839 per annum which is on Grade 7 of the
UCL salary scales.
In addition, London Weighting of £2,781 per annum is payable. Salaries are paid
monthly in arrears by direct transfer to your bank account.
Your incremental date will be 1st August each year, following satisfactory completion
of your probationary period. You will automatically progress by one increment, within
your current grade until the contribution threshold is reached. If you are already at the
top of the grade or in the contribution points then you will not have automatic
incremental progress.
Hours of work
Full time hours average 36½ hours per week and times of work are as determined by
the Head of Unit.
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Annual Leave
Annual leave is 27 working days for a full time member of staff. UCL also closes for a
period at Christmas and Easter, at which times staff benefit from a total of 6 „closure
days‟ in addition to Bank Holidays. Leave is pro rata for part time employees.
Sick Leave
Full Pay Half Pay
During first 3 months service 2 weeks 2 weeks
3 months service or more but less
9 weeks 9 weeks
than 12 months service
12 months service or more but less
13 weeks 13 weeks
than 3 years service
3 years service or more but less
22 weeks 22 weeks
than 4 years service
Service of 4 years or more 26 weeks 26 weeks
Superannuation
You will be entered into membership of the appropriate Pension Scheme for which a
contribution will be deducted from your salary – details will be sent to you by Payroll
and Pension Services.
Retirement Age
UCL‟s retirement age is 65. All new staff will retire on 31st July following their 65th
birthday.
Annual Season Ticket
A season ticket loan is available to staff who have successfully completed their
probationary period with the facility to repay through a monthly deduction from salary.
Other Conditions
All appointments are subject to the receipt of references satisfactory to the Institute,
health clearance by the Occupational Health Unit and satisfactory clearance being
received from the Criminal Records Bureau.
Probation
There will be a probationary period of 9 months.
Period of Notice
Three months notice on either side.
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General Information about the UCL Institute of Child Health
ICH Refectory
Set in comfortable surroundings, the refectory offers a daily variety of hot dishes
(including vegetarian), a sandwich/salad bar and other snacks and soft drinks at
reasonable prices.
Training and Development
UCL is committed to the training and development of its staff. The Staff
Development and Training Unit is available to offer advice, encouragement and
support to staff and departments in respect of any training needs.
Full details of the courses available can be found in the Staff Development and
Training Course Programme, which is available on request or by visiting the website
www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/sdtu/
Library
The Friends of the Children of Great Ormond Street Library is a noted specialist
paediatric collection and is the recognised main collection for paediatrics in the
University of London.
The Library supports the research, teaching and clinical work of the Institute of Child
Health (ICH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust (GOSH). The
Library was refurbished, redeveloped and extended in 1996, whilst a further
extension was opened in November 2000. Networked PC workstations give users
access to a wide range of databases and Internet resources. The collection is
managed using the “Unicorn” system http://www.ion.ucl.ac.uk/admin/webcat.html
The main clinical collection comprises approximately 16,000 volumes, including
bound journals, whilst over 250 current journals are received. The Library is one of
the medical site libraries within UCL. Further information on the Library and Library
services may be found at
http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/services_and_facilities/internal/library/
The library is staffed from 9am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays.
Research and Development Office
The Joint Research and Development (R&D) Office serves the UCL Institute of Child
Health (ICH) and the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). The Office
works closely with most administrative departments in ICH and GOSH and is
responsible for all research governance and administration, as well as for
implementation of the research strategies. There is also a close relationship with the
R&D Office of University College London (UCL) and its associated hospital UCLH.
The main focus of the R&D team is to enhance performance in R&D, to capitalise the
funding achieved and to maintain the level of international excellence and recognition
for research that ICH and GOSH have achieved.
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The current research portfolio extends to over 800 active projects across eight
research themes. The R&D Office has achieved ISO 9001 accreditation. The ever
evolving environment in which R&D activities operate both nationally and
internationally make this a dynamic and challenging area in which to work.
Information Systems Unit (ISU)
The Information Systems Unit (ISU) exists to support the IT requirements of the
Institute in the areas of research, teaching and administration.
The unit supports over 1000 customers and about 2000 items of IT equipment
(computers, printers etc) across seven buildings and within GOSH; support is also
provided to a growing number of users based off-site.
The ISU works in liaison with colleagues within the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
(FBMS) and Information Systems at University College London (UCL IS). We are
working towards streamlining our services with those of UCL IS and FBMS. There is
ongoing work with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) group at
GOSH to support the interworking of IT services across ICH and GOSH.
Medical Illustration
Medical Illustration – ICH is based in Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL Institute
of Child health. It is organised into three sections:
1. Clinical Photography; dealing with photography and video recording of patients;
operating theatre and post mortem room photography; pathological specimen
photography and general, PR and still life photography. This section also deals
with video/DVD production for in house and external clients.
2. The Reprographic Section deals with all forms of copy work including
radiographs, scans, graphs, charts and tables for reproduction as prints or digital
output. Also the construction and design of PowerPoint presentations.
3. The Graphics Section produces graphic and website design, Logo and corporate
ID creation, print and publication work. Output includes posters, overhead
projection transparencies, booklets, brochures, stationery and digital files.
Local Amenities
In the heart of Bloomsbury, we are conveniently located between Russell Square and
Holborn tube stations, served by the Central and Piccadilly lines.
Close by the Institute are numerous high street banks and a main post office.
Members of the Institute are also able to make use of UCL/ULU facilities at
discounted rates, e.g. swimming pool, gymnasium, badminton, squash, exercise
classes. There are also a number of cafes and bars and other facilities such as the
Bloomsbury Theatre.
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Equal Opportunities
Our policy includes the provision that in recruitment, the only consideration must be
that the individual meets or is likely to meet the genuine requirements of the job. No
one will be discriminated against on the basis of gender, age, race, colour, ethnic
origin, physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation, caring or parental
responsibilities, or belief in any matters including religion and politics.
Informal Enquiries
To find out more about the post, please contact Dr Mike Hubank on
m.hubank@ich.ucl.ac.uk
For further information about the UCL Institute of Child Health, please visit our
website at www.ich.ucl.ac.uk
Submitting an application
1. Application for this post will be by Curriculum Vitae, Supporting Letter,
Appendix Form (which includes an Equal Opportunities Classification
Form). Applicants must apply via post (only applicants from abroad may
submit their application via email). Postal applications must include 4
copies of your CV and covering letter and 1 copy of the Appendix form
and the Equal Opportunities form.
2. Your supporting letter should also include the following;
Job reference DH/09/06
Whether we may approach one or all of your referees prior to interview.
Please note that we require details of at least two referees (to include your
current/most recent employer) together with their full postal address,
telephone number and email details. Relatives may not be used as
referees.
Whether you require permission / a work permit to take up employment in
the UK.
If employed, how many days (and how many periods) of sick leave you
have had over the last 12 months (provide additional information if you feel
this would be useful).
If you are called to interview, whether you would require any special
facilities at the interview (please provide as much information as possible,
and we will do our best to accommodate your request).
3. Equal Opportunities Policy
UCL is required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to monitor
all of its recruitment and selection activities to assess how its Equal
Opportunities Policy is working in practice and to ensure recruitment and
selection is carried out fairly.
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As part of the application process all applicants responding to an
advertisement at UCL are asked to complete the Equal Opportunities
Classification Form. On receipt this form will be separated from your
application. The information provided will be treated in the strictest
confidence and will only be used for the purposes of statistical monitoring.
It will not form part of the selection process.
4. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and Protection of Children
Any appointment at ICH involving contact with children is considered
exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. You
should, depending on the nature of the post you have applied for, declare
any pending prosecutions or convictions you may have, even if they would
otherwise be regarded as „spent‟ under the Act, and any cautions or bind-
overs. The information you provide will be treated in strict confidence.
For such positions, ICH is entitled under arrangements introduced for the
protection of children to check with the police for the existence of any
criminal record of the successful applicant and to check the Protection of
Children List. Information received by the police will be kept in strict
confidence and will be destroyed immediately the selection process is
completed. Any offer of employment is therefore subject to satisfactory
clearance being received from the Criminal Records Bureau.
The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you
from appointment unless the selection panel considers that the conviction
renders you unsuitable for appointment. In making the decision, ICH will
consider the nature of the offence, how long ago it took place, and at what
age you were when it was committed along with any other factors which
may be relevant, including appropriate considerations in relation to UCL‟s
Equal Opportunities Policy.
Failure to declare a conviction, caution or bind-over may, however,
disqualify you from appointment or result in summary / disciplinary action if
the discrepancy comes to light. If you would like to discuss this issue in
confidence, please contact Mr Mark Tiwarri, Senior Human Resources
Administrator, on 020 7905 2630.
5. For advice on any of the above please contact Human Resources on 020
7905 2741/ 2742.
6. If you would like the receipt of your application to be acknowledged,
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope or postcard with your
application.
Unfortunately we cannot write to applicants who are not shortlisted.
Consequently, if you have not heard from ICH within four weeks of the
closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted. We hope
that this does not discourage you from making further applications in the
future.
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Where to send the application
Applications should be sent to:
Mr Daniel Henniker
Human Resources Office
Institute of Child Health
30 Guilford Street
London
WC1N 1EH
We can be contacted by email at d.henniker@ich.ucl.ac.uk or by telephoning 020
7905 2742.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 12th March 2009
We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic
candidates as they are under represented within UCL at this level. This is in
line with section 38 of the Race Relations Act 1976.
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