Bioinformatician
Post Details
Job Title
Bioinformatician
Post Number
1006092
Closing Date
24 Apr 2026
Grade
SC6
Starting Salary
Salary: £37,500 - £45,350
Funding End Date
30 Sep 2035
Hours per week
37
Project Title
Genome-wide in vivo study on the role of RNA structure in response to stress
Expected/Ideal Start Date
02 Sep 2026
Months Duration
36
Interview Date
06 May 2026

Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job

Applicants are invited to apply for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the group of Prof. Yiliang Ding in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology to study the role of RNA structure in gene regulation and gene expression. We are seeking an outstanding and highly motivated researcher to join the group of Professor Yiliang Ding at the John Innes Centre (JIC), Norwich, UK. The successful candidate will lead an internationally competitive research programme focused on the development and application of plant-specific artificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatic approaches to understand RNA- mediated gene regulation. This role will involve the design, development, and application of next-generation AI models for RNA, with a particular emphasis on uncovering functional sequence and structural motifs. A key focus will be on RNA splicing and export mechanisms, especially those governed by RNA structure and dynamics. You will work at the interface of AI, RNA biology, and plant sciences, contributing to a rapidly evolving research direction that aims to decode regulatory principles across multiple biological scales.

Key Relationships

The successful candidate will work closely with experimental researchers in the Ding lab to ensure tight integration between computational predictions and experimental validation, enabling rapid hypothesis testing and high-impact publications.
In addition, you will:
Collaborate extensively with experimentalists in the Ding lab
Engage with computational partners across the Norwich Research Park (NRP)
Build connections with international collaborators in RNA biology, AI, and plant science

 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage
Deep sequencing, data management, data analysis, feature extraction from large-scale biological datasets
30
Novel algorithm and AI development for presenting and analysing RNA structure, related software solution implementation
30
To establish novel bioinformatics analysis pipelines for newly collected transcriptome data
15
To interact with lab collaborators, NBI bioinformatics research community; to prepare and present research results, presentations, reports and manuscripts, to attend internal and external meetings
15
As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role
10

Person Profile

Education & Qualifications

Requirement
Importance
PhD in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Biology, or Bioinformatics
Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement
Importance
Understanding of data-driven algorithm design and related software solution implementation
Essential
Understanding of analysing big biological datasets
Essential
Proficiency in computer programming, e.g. Java, Python, or C
Essential
Proficiency in statistical analysis on big datasets using R or MATLAB
Essential
Modelling and simulation
Desirable
Data driven algorithm design
Desirable
Data mining, machine learning
Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement
Importance
Experience in computational RNA genomics data analysis
Essential
Strong experience in computational biology skills and machine learning applied to RNA/DNA research, particularly RNA structure
Desirable
Extensive experience in data mining
Desirable
Extensive experience in genomic data analysis
Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement
Importance
Evidence of intellectual independence, rigour and creativity
Essential
Experience of oral presentation to scientific audiences
Essential
Good communication skills, both written and verbal
Essential
Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team
Essential
Ability to work well in a team
Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement
Importance
Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
Essential
Attention to detail
Essential
Promotes equality and values diversity
Essential
Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
Essential
Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
Essential
Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate
Essential

Who We Are

John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Cell & Developmental Biology

Development continues throughout the life of the plant. While many linear pathways affecting development have been discovered and are illustrated by elegant genetic studies, the challenge of the future will be for us to understand how these developmental pathways are integrated, both with themselves as well as with environmental signals, to enable a mature plant to grow from a seed.  Guided by evolutionary principles, the Department uses its knowledge of biological processes obtained in laboratory organisms such as Arabidopsis to understand processes in crop plants such as Brassicas and cereals.  To study this interaction of the plant genome with internal developmental networks and the environment, the Department uses a combination of genetic, cell biological, molecular and evolutionary strategies. The insights we are gaining provide both an increasingly detailed knowledge of the proteins involved in diverse regulatory mechanisms and a conceptual framework in which this knowledge can be related and eventually integrated into a molecular description of plant cell function.   The knowledge the department is creating is relevant to agriculture. Genes that control plant stature, form, over-wintering responses and growth are potentially useful for improving crop performance.

Group Details

The Ding group develops cutting-edge experimental and computational technologies to uncover how RNA structure controls transcription, RNA processing, translation, and degradation. The group combines in vivo RNA structuromics, single-molecule approaches, and artificial intelligence to reveal fundamental regulatory mechanisms and translate them into applications in crop resilience and RNA therapeutics. Ultimately, the group aims to build an RNA-based molecular design framework that enables precise engineering of gene expression for agriculture and beyond.
The group aims to:
1. Identify RNA “codes” underlying environmental adaptation
2. Predict how sequence variation alters RNA structure and function
3. Design optimised RNA sequences to enhance crop tolerance
Using genome editing and computational design, we are developing a predict–validate–optimise pipeline for engineering climate-resilient crops.

Living in Norfolk

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Bioinformatician

Salary:           £37,500 - £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience
Contract:      36 months, fulltime
Location:      John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
Closing date: 24 April 2026
Reference:   1006092

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Ding Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Cell and Developmental Biology.

About the Ding Group:
The Ding group develops cutting-edge experimental and computational technologies to uncover how RNA structure controls transcription, RNA processing, translation, and degradation. The group combines in vivo RNA structuromics, single-molecule approaches, and artificial intelligence to reveal fundamental regulatory mechanisms and translate them into applications in crop resilience and RNA therapeutics. Ultimately, the group aims to build an RNA-based molecular design framework that enables precise engineering of gene expression for agriculture and beyond.

The role:
We are seeking an outstanding, highly motivated researcher to join the group of Professor Yiliang Ding at the John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich, UK.
The successful candidate will lead an internationally competitive research programme focused on the development and application of plant-specific artificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatic approaches to understand RNA- and DNA-mediated gene regulation.

This role will involve the design, development, and application of next-generation AI models for RNA and DNA, with a particular emphasis on uncovering functional sequence and structural motifs. A key focus will be on RNA splicing and export mechanisms, especially those governed by RNA structure and dynamics.

You will work at the interface of AI, RNA biology, and plant sciences, contributing to a rapidly evolving research direction aimed at decoding regulatory principles across multiple biological scales.

The successful candidate will work closely with experimental researchers in the Ding lab to ensure tight integration between computational predictions and experimental validation, enabling rapid hypothesis testing and high-impact publications.

In addition, you will:
Collaborate extensively with experimentalists in the Ding lab
Engage with computational partners across the Norwich Research Park (NRP)
Build connections with international collaborators in RNA biology, AI, and plant science
This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a world-leading interdisciplinary environment that combines cutting-edge AI methods with state-of-the-art experimental RNA biology.

The ideal candidate:

You will have a PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in molecular biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, RNA biology, or a related discipline, with strong computational biology and machine learning experience applied to RNA/DNA research, particularly RNA structure.

A track record of independent research, scientific writing, and presentations is essential. Experience preparing grant applications and managing research activities is highly desirable. Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment, are required.

Additional information:
Interviews are planned for 6 May 2026.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.