The ongoing 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak is considered to be the largest and longest outbreak ever recorded of Ebola, killing at least 932 people and infecting more than 1,700 till date since March in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Liberia.

Hence, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 8 August, 2014 declared the killer Ebola epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa an international health emergency.

Causes

EVD is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. While there are five identified sub-species of Ebolavirus, four viruses cause disease in humans. They are Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), Taï Forest virus (TAFV).

The fifth virus, Reston virus (RESTV), is not considered to be disease-causing in humans.

According to WHO, EVD first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River from which the disease takes its name.

How does it spread?

It is still unclear how Ebola spreads. However, it is believed that the first pateint becomes infected through contact with an infected animal's body fluids.

Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with blood, organs or other body fluids of infected people or exposure to objects such as needles and syringes that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

Ebola can also be transmitted from men who have recovered from the disease through semen as it is infectious for up to 7 weeks.

Infected dead bodies can spread Ebola as they are still infectious. So mourners who have direct contact with the body of deceased person can also get the disease.

Who is most at risk?

Health-care workers who do not wear appropriate protective clothing and family members who are in close contact with infected people or deceased patients.

Signs and symptoms:

Symptoms may occur between 2 and 21 days after contracting the infection. Common signs of Ebola include:

Fever

Headache

Muscle, abdominal and joint pain

Sore throat

Weakness

Diarrhea

Vomit or cough up blood

Chest pain

Difficulty in breathing and swallowing

Rash

Hiccups

Bleeding inside and outside the body

Prevention

Currently there is no vaccine available for humans. But the infection can be controlled through the use of recommended protective measures such as:

Avoid contacting infected blood or secretions, including from those who are dead .

Using standard precautions for all patients in the healthcare setting.

Sterilizing equipment, and wearing protective clothing including masks, gloves, gowns and goggles.

Washing your hands with soaps or detergents.

Disinfecting your surroundings.

Isolate people who have Ebola symptoms.

Culling of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses.

Yet, not travelling to the areas or countries where the virus is found is the best way to avoid Ebola.

The Role

We are looking for a Software Engineer - Computational Biologist with 3+
years' experience in a similar role to design and implement a backend system
to support an online individualised genomics interface. This position is a
great opportunity for an ambitious, self-motivated individual to work in a
demanding, challenging and interesting role.

Position Description:
. Participate in planning, design, and implementation of Equinome back
end systems and technologies.
. Implement interfaces and management tools for back end services.
. Manage, analyse, interpret and visualise large genomics data sets.
. Work closely with scientific team to develop new features and
application enhancements
. Design, develop and manage a genomics research database.

Qualification/Experience:
. Minimum MSc in Computer Science, Genetics, Bioinformatics or in a
related field (A Ph.D qualification would be an advantage).
. Proven 3+ years of experience in similar role.
. Highly proficient in Python, SQL, MySQL.
. Excellent knowledge of mammalian genomics, bioinformatics and
statistical/population genetics.
. Hands-on experience working with large data sets.
. Experience with front-end technologies (HTML/CSS/Javascript) an
advantage.
. Experience in rapid web application development: e.g. Django.
. Knowledge or experience of Unix Scripting and R statistical
programming language would be an advantage.
. Ability to work with minimum supervision to deliver high-quality
code on time.
. Fluency in English and good written and communication skills.
. Meticulous attention to detail.

Applications should be submitted before Friday, 26 September 2014 using the
following link:
http://bit.ly/WgbhxS

Note: Full information and application procedure is available at this link:
http://bit.ly/WgbhxS

JRF (Maximum Tenure‐ Five Years: 2yrs as JRF and 3yrs as SRF)
A first class Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics (likely 2 posts)
Around Rs 16,000/ Plus 30% HRA (as per rules of funding agency)

Applications are invited from candidates possessing the above qualifications. The upper age limit is as on the last date for receipt of application. (5 years relaxation to SC/ST candidates, 3 years to OBC candidates, and other entitled categories as per Govt rules). Actual No. of vacancies may vary.

Application form can be download from the website www.drdo.gov.in and E Mailed to inmashrd@gmail.com.
Last date to apply by email is 1700 hrs on 15 Oct 2014
Incomplete applications are liable to be rejected.
Confirmation will be sent to short-listed candidates through email only
Antecedents of selected candidates will be verified.
Written Test will be conducted from 0930-1030 hrs. Latecomers will not be considered.
Candidates will be required to produce certificates/testimonials in original at the time of interview.
It may please be noted that offer of Fellowship does not confer on fellows any right for absorption in DRDO.
Candidates should carry photocopy of Application form sent by email with them.
No TA/DA will be paid for attending interview & on joining.
Last date to apply by email is 1700 hrs on 15 Oct 2014

More at http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/jrf29092014.pdf
http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=inmas29092014.jsp

Applications are invited for pre-selection of candidates for Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology INSPIRE Faculty Scheme: a component of “Assured Opportunity for Research Career (AORC)” under INSPIRE in the area of computational Biology/Systems Biology/Bioinformatics.

Candidates having done their B.Tech/B.E. and or M.Sc./M.Tech in Computer Science or Biotechnology and Ph.D. in Systems/ Computational Biology or Bioinformatics may apply in the following format prescribed by DST to the Director, Cluster Innovation Center, University Stadium, GC Narang Marg, University of Delhi, Delhi -11107. Detials of other qualification, age limits etc., please visit www.inspire-dst.gov.in.

Application on the prescribed format may be submitted by email to director@cic.du.ac.in before October 25, 2014. Selected candidates shall be called for an interview. The date, time and venue of the interview shall be informed by email/telephone. For more information about Cluster Innovation Center, please visit https://ducic.ac.in.

We work in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of Computer Science and Biology. Since its inception, our lab has eagerly engaged in collaborative research partnerships with biological and experimental collaborators, facilitated by our affiliation with the Broad Institute and the Computational and Systems Biology initiative (CSBi) at MIT, our participation in the Epigenome Roadmap, ENCODE, and modENCODE consortia, and by several other ongoing collaborations at MIT, Harvard, and the Harvard Medical School affiliated hospitals.

http://compbio.mit.edu/

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13151062/1/affymetrix-acquires-assets-of-eureka-genomics-corporation-to-provide-high-throughput-and-economical-crop-and-animal-genotyping.html

Main research topics:
- Comparative and Population Genomics of Plant Symbionts
- Parasite Genome Evolution
- Experimental Evolution of Microbial Symbionts and Parasites
- Phylogenomics of Early Branching Fungi

More at http://corradilab.weebly.com/

Current research interests include next-generation DNA sequencing, structural variation, genome rearrangements in cancer and evolution, and network analysis of somatic mutations in cancer. Earlier research included topics in comparative genomics, multiple sequence alignment, and motif finding.

More athttp://compbio.cs.brown.edu/