Bioinformatics Software Engineer / Bioinformatics Software Engineeress

Bioinformatics Software Engineer for Microbiome Research

80%-100%, Zurich, Fixed-term

The position is located at the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health at ETH Zurich, within the Laboratory of Food Systems Biotechnology, led by Prof. Dr. Nicholas Bokulich. The Bokulich laboratory specializes in developing bioinformatics methods and software for microbiome research, including QIIME 2, and utilizes these tools to investigate microbiomes at the intersections of food and human health.

Job Description

The successful applicant will focus on developing bioinformatics software for the analysis and integration of microbiome and other omics datasets, aiming to enhance our understanding of microbial communities relevant to food and human health. Candidates should be proficient in Python programming tailored to bioinformatics software development and demonstrate experience in collaborative development on GitHub. The role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to create and apply open-source software across diverse research topics.

Profile

We are seeking a skilled bioinformatics software engineer to contribute to the development of the microbiome bioinformatics platform QIIME 2 and related tools.

Key Qualifications

• Master's degree or a bachelor's degree with equivalent experience in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, computational biology, or related fields
• Strong programming skills (Python) and software development/engineering experience
• Proven track record in developing open-source bioinformatics software
• Experience with collaborative software development using Git and GitHub
• Familiarity with implementing GitHub Actions workflows
• Excellent interpersonal communication, teamwork, and organizational skills
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) for effective communication with colleagues and collaborators

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with QIIME 2 development
• Familiarity with biological data structures and formats
• Experience handling microbiome (marker gene, metagenome) or other omics data
• Knowledge of the conda and conda-build ecosystem
• Experience with software containerization (Docker, Singularity)
• Experience in high-performance computing environments

Workplace

Your role will be situated in a dynamic and innovative environment at ETH Zurich, where we encourage collaboration and the exchange of ideas among experts from various fields.

We Offer

• Your career with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, an institution committed to your professional development while actively contributing to positive societal change.
• We promote sustainability and aim for a climate-neutral university.
• Enjoy numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets, car-sharing options, diverse sports activities through ASVZ, childcare services, and attractive pension schemes.

We Value Diversity

In alignment with our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and maintain a working and learning environment that respects the rights and dignity of all our staff and students. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn how we create a fair and open environment that enables everyone to thrive.

Curious? So Are We.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below. Please include the following documents:

• An updated curriculum vitae that details your publications, education, and relevant software design experience
• Contact information for 2-3 professional references

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. For further information about the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, please visit our website. For questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Michal Ziemski at michal.ziemski@hest.ethz.ch (no applications).

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge to society, we welcome over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries. Our university is a place that promotes independent thinking in an inspiring environment. Positioned in the heart of Europe while forging global connections, we work collaboratively to develop solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.