Lead Bioinformatics Platform

About the Role

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) is seeking a Lead, Bioinformatics Platform. This full-time position involves providing scientific, technical, operational, and financial leadership for the Bioinformatics Platform's bioinformatics and software infrastructure teams. The role is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the delivery and continuous development of bioinformatics services, computational workflows, software tools, and data infrastructure that support KAUST researchers and Core Labs.

Role Context and Leadership

The Lead provides strategic and day-to-day leadership to a multidisciplinary team of bioinformatics and software professionals. This includes ensuring the Platform delivers reliable, scalable, and high-quality services while developing new capabilities aligned with KAUST's research priorities. The Lead works closely with the Platform Chair, affiliated faculty, the Bioscience Core Lab, KAUST IT, the Supercomputing Core Lab, other Research Platforms and Core Labs, researchers, and external collaborators. The position spans the Platform's operation, infrastructure, service, and research & development activities, with a focus on integrating computational infrastructure, bioinformatics analysis, workflow automation, and software development into robust and sustainable research capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, technical, operational, and financial leadership for the Bioinformatics Platform team, ensuring coordination across bioinformatics, software development, and computational infrastructure.
• Lead project planning and resource allocation, balancing routine service delivery, infrastructure development, software development, and R&D activities.
• Oversee the development of capabilities in areas such as genomics, metagenomics, microbiome analysis, spatial omics, short-read and long-read sequencing, structural biology, multi-omics, and AI-enabled biological data analysis.
• Monitor developments in bioinformatics, computational biology, AI, and software engineering to identify opportunities for introducing relevant technologies.
• Ensure efficient day-to-day delivery of bioinformatics and data analysis services to KAUST researchers, faculty, and Core Labs.
• Provide expert guidance on bioinformatics and computational approaches for complex research projects.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with faculty, researchers, Core Labs, IT, research platforms, and external partners.
• Contribute to the development of new collaborations, externally funded projects, and consultancy opportunities.
• Lead the development and improvement of scalable bioinformatics workflows, analytical pipelines, software tools, and computational services.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of web-based bioinformatics services, databases, and computational resources.
• Develop and implement software and computational asset management strategies.
• Contribute to FAIR data management practices.
• Plan and oversee SOPs, workflows, user, and technical documentation.
• Coordinate with KAUST IT and the Supercomputing Core Lab on computational resources.
• Establish quality control, quality assurance, validation, reproducibility, and documentation practices.
• Lead financial planning and budget management for the Platform, identifying opportunities for cost optimization, external funding, and service revenue.
• Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop staff, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and positive work environment.
• Lead the development of new bioinformatics methodologies, software tools, and AI-driven methods.
• Contribute to training, workshops, publications, and grant proposals.

Experience Requirements

Candidates should possess 5-10 years of relevant experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field, demonstrating a strong background in leading teams and managing complex projects.

Work Environment

This role operates within a dynamic research environment at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, collaborating with various core labs, IT departments, and research platforms. The position requires interaction with faculty, researchers, and external partners, contributing to a collaborative and innovative scientific community.

Application Information

This is a full-time position with a salary that will be disclosed during the recruitment process.