FAQs
What is the main responsibility of the Bioinformatician at Public Health Scotland?
The main responsibility of the Bioinformatician is to deliver bioinformatics support in public health microbiology, including maintaining and developing infrastructure for bioinformatics tools and processes, as well as conducting analysis of genomic datasets from various sources.
What kind of pathogens will the Bioinformatician work with?
The Bioinformatician will work with bacterial pathogens in the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories and viral pathogens in the Scottish Specialist Virology Centres, as well as supporting pathogen genomic surveillance from environmental sources.
What qualifications or skills are preferred for this position?
The post holder should have strong communication skills, expertise in bioinformatics, experience with next generation sequencing (NGS), and the ability to analyze complex genomic datasets, among other relevant qualifications.
What are the working hours for this Bioinformatician role?
The work pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, totaling 28.8 hours per week.
Is there an expectation for travel in this job?
Yes, there is an expectation to travel to local areas for some meetings and events.
Are there any specific background checks required for this position?
Yes, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check and may need to provide a criminal record check from an overseas agency if they have lived/worked outside the UK for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years.
What type of working pattern does Public Health Scotland offer?
Public Health Scotland offers flexible working options and is open to discussing alternative working patterns to help colleagues balance work and personal responsibilities.
What benefits does Public Health Scotland offer its employees?
The benefits package includes a pension scheme, a range of work-life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resources, and discounted leisure, financial, and shopping benefits.
How does Public Health Scotland support inclusion and diversity?
Public Health Scotland is committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, supports flexible working options, and has policies in place to foster an understanding workplace culture. They also offer a guarantee for interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria.
Who can be contacted for an informal discussion regarding the position?
For an informal discussion about the post, contact Sharif Shaaban at sharif.shaaban2@phs.scot.

