Description
The Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Bioinformatician. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately x months/year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
This position reports to the Senior Research Lead.
The Charbonneau Cancer Institute is at the forefront of integrating genomic data into both clinical and discovery settings, impacting patient care and our understanding of cancer biology. The successful candidate will (1) analyze data from emerging and established next-generation sequencing technologies and (2) build genomics data infrastructure to facilitate large-scale analysis of cancer genomics data.
The bioinformatician will support the development of a novel sequencing platform that offers unprecedented sensitivity into cellular processes underlying cancer evolution. In this capacity, the candidate will compare multiomics data from in-house and public datasets, participating in collaborative work in groundbreaking research.
The candidate will also play a vital role in building data infrastructure to enable reproducible, scalable, and extensible analyses of genomics data from cancer patients. In this capacity, the candidate will assist in building critical infrastructure to track patient samples, quality control, and genomics analyses. This work will have an immediate impact on cancer patients across a wide geographic area, while also building one of the largest whole-genome sequencing datasets in Canada and enabling translational studies in the search for novel therapeutics.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Research Design and Implementation:
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Contribute to the full lifecycle of research projects, including dataset curation, at local, national and international meetings
Data Operations and Database Development:
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Contribute to the development and maintenance of a scalable relational database for oncology data provenance to track deidentified patients, samples, and derived datasets
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Support adherence to institutional standards for data access control and resilience in collaboration with IT teams
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Define data models and schemas that support diverse study designs, sample hierarchies, and analysis versioning
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Establish data validation and quality control to ensure integrity
Collaboration:
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Work collaboratively with other staff and trainees to achieve shared goals
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Work collaboratively with multiple research groups on translational medicine projects
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Explain complex information to internal stakeholders through presentations or one-on-one consultations
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Actively engage teammates for feedback, contribute to project planning and coordination, and flag risks early to maintain clarity, momentum, and scientific rigor across the workflow
Qualifications / Requirements:
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BSc or MSc in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Molecular Biology, or related field
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Minimum 1 year of research experience in data science, genomics, or bioinformatics
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Proficiency in Python, R, or another high-level programming language, including use of IDEs and agentic coding tools
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Hands-on experience with Linux/Unix environments, virtual machines, and HPC clusters
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Familiarity with genomic data structures (FASTQ, BAM, BED, VCF) and the design of modular, reproducible data (bioinformatics) pipelines for efficiently processing, analyzing, and storing large datasets
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Experience with SQL and the design and management of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) would be an asset
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Familiarity with data operations practices including data validation, quality control, access control, and data resilience standards
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Familiarity with workflow management systems (e.g., Nextflow, Snakemake, WDL), package managers (e.g., Conda), containerization tools (e.g., Docker, Singularity), and version control (Git)
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, evidenced by technical documentation, publications, or presentations to diverse audiences
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Experience contributing to scientific manuscripts or grant applications, such as preparation of figures, methods sections, and data summaries
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Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, with ability to work independently and collaboratively
Application Deadline: June 4, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 1.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
