The project is on bacterial gene gain and loss and emerging pathogenicity, and is described in full here: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/research/postdocs/ebpods/projects/goldman-welch-2015 . The EMBL-EBI / Cambridge Computational Biomedical Postdoctoral (“EBPOD”)

The closing date for applications is 3 September 2015. Nick Goldman EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute Nick Goldman

More at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/research/postdocs/ebpods/projects/goldman-welch-2015

ECM3413 - Bioinformatics

Contents

General Information

Lecture Slides

Past Exam Paper

Continuous Assessments

Suggested Reading List

General Information

	This module runs in Semester 2.
	It is taught by Dr Ed Keedwell (Module Coordinator)
	Module Descriptor:  ECM3413
	Lecture Times: Tuesday 5pm,  171| Thursday, 171
	Workshop Times: Wednesday 11am Blue Room (Weeks 29,33 &40)
	Assessment: 2 CAs each worth 15% | 1 Examination worth 70%

Lecture Slides (if you have to print slides, to save your ink choose 'print in black and white' on the print menu)

	PPT|PDF| Lecture 1 - Introduction to Bioinformatics (& Biology)
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 2 - Genome Sequences: from fragments to sequences
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 3 - Sequence Alignment 1
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 4 - Global Pairwise Sequence Alignment
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 5 - Local Pairwise Sequence Alignment (Smith-Waterman & BLAST)
	DOC| Workshop 1 - Using BLAST and other Bioinformatics Databases
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 6 - Multiple Sequence Alignment
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 7 - BLAST (in more detail) & FASTA
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 8 - Sequence Alignment Conclusion & Other Sequence Analyses
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 9 - Markov Chains and Intro to Hidden Markov Models
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 10 - Hidden Markov Models
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 11 - Classification in Bioinformatics
	DOC|Workshop 2 - Using See5
	Workshop Data - Part 1 - adult.names | adult.data | adult.test, Part 3 - wdbc.names| wdbc.data
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 12 - Gene Expression Data
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 13 - Decision Trees and Gene Expression Classification
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 14 - Other Methods for Gene Expression Classification
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 15 - Gene Regulation
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 16 - Neural Networks in Gene Expression Analysis
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 17 - Genome Analysis
	PPT|PDF| Lecture 18 - Conclusion/Revision Lecture

For some reason best known to itself, my PDF creator doesn't like the slide with the substitution matrix on.  Therefore this has been removed from Lectures 3 and 7 for the PDF copy only - however, more information on these matrices can be found here.

Past Exam Paper

The paper from 2007/8 can be found here.

Continuous Assessments

	PDF|  CA1 - Manual Sequence Alignment
	PDF|Promoter.names|Promoter.data|ML.names|ML.data| CA2 - Data Mining in Bioinformatics

Suggested Reading List

General Bioinformatics

<="top">Xiong, J., (2006) Essential Bioinformatics, Cambridge University Press

	Lesk, A.M., (2002) Introduction to Bioinformatics, Oxford University Press
	Higgs, P.G., (2005) Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution,  Blackwell Publishing

Machine Learning in Bioinformatics

	Baldi, P., Brunak, S., (2001) Bioinformatics: The Machine Learning Approach, MIT Press
	Keedwell, E., Narayanan, A., (2005) Intelligent Bioinformatics: The Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Bioinformatics Problems, Wiley

Gene expression and protein expression patterns between normal and non-normal tissues is a growing area of research that may lead to the identification of candidate genes for understanding the etiology of common, complex diseases.

Lab homepage @ http://ritchielab.psu.edu/ritchielab/

Professor/Senior Lecturer of Comparative Genomics
Vacancy Ref: 153610
Salary: Professor, Grade 10 will be within the Professorial range and
subject to negotiation
Senior Lecturer, Grade 9, 57,696 - 64,914 per annum

The School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine has an
exciting opportunity to appoint a Professor/Senior Lecturer in Comparative
Genomics. You will make a substantial and positive contribution to the
strategic direction of the School/College through leading and contributing
to research of international standard, high quality teaching at both
undergraduate and postgraduate level, securing research funding, and
providing academic leadership and management within the School/College.

Applications are invited from candidates of international standing with
an appropriate record of academic achievement in comparative genomics
and associated omics technologies. We are looking for a candidate who
will complement our existing strengths in clinical veterinary medicine,
evolutionary biology, and animal physiology, with a demonstrable interest
in using domestic mammals among their study systems. We are particularly
interested in applications from candidates with a track record of
studying health related traits and their underlying genomic basis in
companion animals. Traits of specific interest include those related
to metabolism, ageing, and disease (e.g. cancer, autoimmune diseases,
neuromuscular disorders).

The School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine is home to
researchers studying organismal biology and animal health across a diverse
range of systems, approaches and disciplines with existing strengths
in infectious disease, physiology, ageing, veterinary epidemiology, and
evolution among others. You will be based on the University of Glasgow's
Garscube campus, where the majority of veterinary teaching and research
infrastructure is located. This includes the Small Animal Hospital (a
recent 15M investment) and our Veterinary Diagnostic Services, offering
excellent opportunities for collaborative research at the clinical and
translational interface, especially with respect to companion animals.

We welcome applications from candidates with a Scottish Credit and
Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) in animal biology, genomics and
health or related discipline with an extensive and established reputation
in research and significant teaching experience within the subject area.

This post is full time and open ended.

Visit our website for further information on The University of
Glasgow's, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine,
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/

Informal Enquiries should be directed to Professor Roman Biek,
Roman.Biek@glasgow.ac.uk

Apply online at:
https://my.corehr.com/pls/uogrecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.jobspec?p_id=153610

Essential requirements: Experience of using bioinformatics tools.

Experience of working in Linux. Basic knowledge of computer network administration.

Desirable: Knowledge of Linux installation/administration and proficiency in either of the following:

Shell/PERL/Java/Python/VB/Oracle/MySQL/C/CUDA.

Qualification: PhD. or First class M.Sc degree in Bioinformatics or Biotechnology/life science with specialization in Bioinformatics.

Fellowships: Rs 22,000/- with HRA for PhD qualified, Rs 16000/- with HRA for NET/BET/BINC/GATE qualified and 12000/- with HRA for non NET qualified applicants.

Interested candidates may send their complete biodata along with a write-up of their experience and suitability for the position to Dr. Dinesh Gupta by email only to dinesh@icgeb.res.in within 15 days of publication of this advertisement. Kindly mark the email with subject “Application for BIF-RA-2013”

Closing date for applications: 18 October 2013

Only short listed candidates will be invited for an interview at ICGEB.

No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.

Advertisement: http://www.icgeb.org/tl_files/Vacancies/BIF-RA-Advt.pdf

What is RNA-Seq?

RNA-Seq is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology used to study the transcriptome—the complete set of RNA molecules in a cell. It quantifies gene expression, detects novel transcripts, and captures alternative splicing events with high sensitivity and resolution.

Workflow for RNA-Seq Analysis

RNA-Seq analysis involves several stages, each requiring computational tools and expertise.

1. Experimental Design and Data Acquisition

Before diving into analysis, bioinformaticians should consider:

• Biological Replicates: Ensure statistical power to detect meaningful differences.
• Sequencing Depth: Align sequencing depth to study objectives (e.g., higher depth for low-abundance transcripts).
• Paired-End vs. Single-End: Paired-end sequencing provides more detailed information on transcript structure.

Once sequencing is complete, raw data is provided in FASTQ format, containing sequence reads and quality scores.

2. Quality Control and Preprocessing

Quality control (QC) ensures data integrity. Tools such as FastQC evaluate metrics like base quality, GC content, and adapter contamination.

Preprocessing Steps:

• Trimming: Tools like Trimmomatic or Cutadapt remove low-quality bases and adapter sequences.
• Filtering: Discard reads below a certain quality threshold or length.

3. Read Alignment

Reads are mapped to a reference genome or transcriptome to determine their origin. Alignment tools include:

• HISAT2: Handles large genomes efficiently and supports spliced alignments.
• STAR: High-speed aligner optimized for RNA-Seq.
• Bowtie2: Suitable for short-read alignment.

Output: A SAM/BAM file containing aligned reads.

4. Transcript Assembly and Quantification

This step involves identifying transcripts and quantifying their expression levels. Tools used include:

• StringTie: Assembles and quantifies transcripts from aligned reads.
• Salmon/Kallisto: Perform pseudo-alignment for rapid and accurate quantification.

Expression levels are typically measured as TPM (transcripts per million) or FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads).

5. Differential Expression Analysis

To identify genes with altered expression between conditions, bioinformaticians use tools such as:

• DESeq2: Accounts for data normalization and variability.
• edgeR: Handles overdispersed count data efficiently.
• Limma-voom: Combines linear modeling with RNA-Seq count data.

The output includes a list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with statistical significance and fold-change values.

6. Functional Annotation and Pathway Analysis

Understanding the biological significance of DEGs involves:

• Gene Ontology (GO) Analysis: Tools like DAVID or clusterProfiler categorize genes based on their biological functions.
• Pathway Enrichment Analysis: Identifies pathways enriched in DEGs using tools like KEGG, Reactome, or GSEA.

7. Visualization

Visualizing results enhances interpretability. Common visualizations include:

• Heatmaps: Show expression patterns across samples (e.g., pheatmap).
• Volcano Plots: Highlight significant DEGs (e.g., ggplot2).
• PCA/UMAP: Assess sample clustering and variability (e.g., Seurat).

Challenges in RNA-Seq Analysis

1. Batch Effects: Technical variability can confound biological signals. Combat this with normalization techniques or batch-correction tools like ComBat.
2. Low-Quality Samples: Poor-quality RNA impacts downstream analyses.
3. Computational Complexity: RNA-Seq generates massive datasets, requiring robust computing resources and optimized pipelines.

Key Tools and Resources

• Bioconductor: A treasure trove of R packages for RNA-Seq analysis.
• Galaxy: A web-based platform for running RNA-Seq workflows.
• Nextflow/Snakemake: Workflow management tools to streamline analyses.

Applications of RNA-Seq

RNA-Seq is used in diverse research areas, including:

• Cancer Transcriptomics: Identifying tumor-specific expression profiles.
• Developmental Biology: Studying dynamic transcriptome changes.
• Drug Discovery: Screening genes modulated by therapeutic compounds.

Conclusion

RNA-Seq analysis is a cornerstone of modern transcriptomics, offering bioinformaticians a versatile toolkit for unraveling gene expression and regulation. Mastering RNA-Seq workflows and tools empowers researchers to transform raw sequencing data into biological discoveries.

Whether you’re investigating disease mechanisms, exploring cellular pathways, or developing new therapeutics, RNA-Seq is a powerful ally in your bioinformatics arsenal.

Applications on plain paper along with details of CV (relevant photocopies of their
qualifications/experience and reprints of published work to be attached) are invited from qualified candidates for Research Fellowship in CSIR- sponsored research project.

JRF/SRF/RA (one vacancy)

CSIR sponsored “In silico design, identification and in vitro validation of lead molecule inhibitors to Bcr-Abl kinase”

JRF: M.Sc in Chemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology with I division and NET or GATE qualified

SRF: M.Sc in chemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology with at least two years of post- M.Sc research experience as evidenced from published papers in standard refereed journals in relevant area

RA: PhD in chemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology with research experience in
relevant area.

As per CSIR guidelines

Notes:
1) You may visit the University of Hyderabad website www.uohyd.ernet.in to learn more about the University of Hyderabad.
2) Applicants should note that the appointment to be made is purely temporary and there is no right for claiming for any regular appointment in the University.
3) No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview or at the time of joining the post, if selected.
4) The application should be submitted by post/courier/in-person to the address given below on or before November 1st 2013.

Prof. Lalitha Guruprasad
W-103, Gurbakhsh Singh Building
School of Chemistry
University of Hyderabad
Hyderabad- 500 046
5) Short-listed candidates will be called for interview at a short notice.

Advertisement: http://www.uohyd.ac.in/images/recruitment/chemisry_advt_101013.pdf

National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS) (nbis.se) plays an important role in advancing life science research in Sweden by providing expert support and developing cutting-edge bioinformatics infrastructure. Operating as a truly national initiative, NBIS employs more than 120 bioinformaticians, system developers, and data stewards across multiple locations in Sweden. It serves as the bioinformatics platform at SciLifeLab, a national resource that facilitates research in molecular biosciences by offering access to state-of-the-art technologies and technical expertise. With strong ties to data-producing facilities and ongoing collaborations with leading research groups, NBIS is ideally positioned to support world-class bioinformatics analyses. Furthermore, NBIS is the Swedish node in ELIXIR, the European infrastructure for biological information.

NBIS is seeking an experienced bioinformatician to support both Swedish and international projects. As part of our dynamic team, you will work closely with researchers to process large-scale biological data and contribute to advancing our data analysis infrastructure. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot complex bioinformatics pipelines are essential for success in this role. Flexibility and a willingness to learn are also important, as NBIS continually adapts to meet the evolving needs of the Swedish research community.

More at https://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/join-us/jobs-and-vacancies/job-details?query=778701

Available immediately until 30th November 2015, to work on the development of bioinformatics approaches to aid analysis of data derived from the metabolomic profiling of biological matrices. The successful applicant will lead research activities on an FP7 funded EU-wide collaborative project aimed at establishing biomarker-based strategies for high throughput diagnostic screening. Key tasks will involve multivariate analysis of large datasets, bioinformatic-based selection and validation of identified markers, construction of metabolomic spectral profile databases and development of machine learning/database searching approaches amenable to analytical screening techniques. This position will offer the opportunity to travel and undertake work with project collaborators based in the Republic of Ireland and Europe.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Terry McGrath, email: terry.mcgrath@qub.ac.uk.

Anticipated interview date: Thursday 31st October 2013
Salary scale: £30,424 – £39,649 per annum (including contribution points)
Closing date: Monday 21st October 2013

Telephone (028) 90973044 FAX: (028) 90971040 or e-mail on personnel@qub.ac.uk

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and to selection on merit. It therefore welcomes applications from all sections of society and particularly welcomes applications from people with a disability.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

More @ https://hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=5616943npO&WVID=6273090Lgx&LANG=USA