1800397

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO
Te Whare Wananga o Otago

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Assistant Research Fellow

SECTION: Section of Paediatrics and Child Health
DEPARTMENT: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health
DIVISION: Health Sciences

PRIME FUNCTION

Provide high quality research assistance to Professor Stephen Robertson and the Clinical Genetics
Research Group.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

• To provide technical assistance, analytical expertise and undertake specific experiments aimed
at identifying the genetic basis of mendelian diseases.
• To develop expertise in the generation, curation and analysis of high throughput sequencing
datasets on families with genetic conditions.
• To assist with other experimental programmes in the laboratory aimed at understanding the
genetic basis of mendelian diseases including experiments involving the use of genetically
modified mice.

KEY TASKS

Involvement in the following experimental techniques used in the laboratory:

• Coordination of DNA sample storage and maintenance of clinical and experimental databases.
• Ordering, coordinating and curation of high throughput genomic sequence datasets.
• Development to a high level of skills involved in sequence analysis, variant detection, clinical
correlation and experimental validation using genomic datasets.

Meetings/Reports:
• Take an active role in laboratory meetings, raising general laboratory management issues and
reporting back experimental outcomes and data.

General laboratory tasks:

• Ensure that all equipment is cleaned and maintained to a high standard.
• Maintain fresh stocks of laboratory consumables such as chemicals and drugs.
• Advise of malfunctioning equipment.

General administrative tasks:

• Ordering of reagents and supplies.
• Other duties, as may be required from time to time.

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RELATIONSHIPS

Directly responsible to: Professor Stephen Robertson.

Under the overall direction of:
Supervision of:
Functional relationships with:
Professor Stephen Robertson.
N/A.
Postgraduate students working in the Laboratory.
Other research and general staff working within the Hercus
Building.
Staff within the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.
Referring clinicians and clinical laboratories.

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY

• N/A.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• To perform sequence analysis on high throughput genomic datasets.

• Production of data with appropriate statistical analysis suitable for publication.
• To keep an orderly and neat record of analysis and experimentation undertaken.
• Orderly maintenance of computerized databases.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• MSc or equivalent research experience.

• Research interest and recent experience in human molecular genetics.
• Experience in the manipulation and analysis of genomic datasets would be an advantage.
• Currency with genomic and bioinformatics databases.
• Competence in computer programming and the computational manipulation of large datasets.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis of experimental data.
• Able to work in a variety of settings with minimal supervision.
• Attention to detail and accurate record keeping.
• Ability to relate to a wide variety of people within research and clinical environments.

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