Team Leader, Plant Genomics and Variation (Ensembl and European Variation Archive) at EMBL-EBI, Hinxton

Job Description

EMBL-EBI is recruiting a Plant Genomics and Variation Team Leader to lead Ensembl’s work on crop plants, invertebrates (especially insect pests and vectors) and genetic variation, and the European Variation Archive (EVA), the global archive for genetic variation data from non-human species. It is an EMBL Faculty position at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton.

At a glance

• Position: Plant Genomics and Variation Team Leader, EMBL Faculty (reference JR4407)
• Where: EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK
• Pay: Grade 9, from £6,251.96 a month after tax
• Contract: 5 years, renewable up to 9 years
• Team: about 15 bioinformaticians and software developers
• Apply: 11 October 2026 (23:59 CET)

What the plant genomics team leader at EMBL-EBI will lead

• Lead a team of about 15 staff that delivers the EVA and the crop, invertebrate and variation parts of Ensembl, working with the other Ensembl team leaders
• Build data resources, tools and community engagement for priority species such as wheat, rice, barley and rye, and insect pests and vectors such as aphids and whiteflies
• Lead tools for interpreting genomic variation in all species, including the Ensembl Variant Effect Predictor (VEP)
• Manage the team’s budget and staff, identify funding and apply for external grants
• Work with academic and industrial collaborators, large international consortia, and standards bodies such as AgBioData and GA4GH
• Contribute to EMBL’s strategy as a faculty member, present at international meetings and publish; the post reports to Rob Finn, Section Head for Genome Assembly and Annotation

What the cover letter should cover

Besides a CV, EMBL asks for a cover letter that sets out your vision for the team and for plant, invertebrate and variation resources over the next five years, how you would lead and develop the team, and how you would strengthen links with the scientific community, international initiatives and funders. Interviews are planned in person at Hinxton, likely on 28 October and/or 18 November 2026.

What EMBL is looking for

• A PhD in bioinformatics, life sciences, computing or statistics, or equivalent relevant experience
• At least six years of bioinformatics or genomics experience applied to plant science or breeding, ideally working with a crop research community
• A track record with genetic variation data and with big data at gigabyte to terabyte scale
• In-depth knowledge of at least two of genome assembly, gene annotation and genetic variant annotation, and hands-on experience with AI tools
• Project, staff and budget management, experience across the grant life cycle, and a record of manuscripts and successful grants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a commitment to developing staff and improving processes

Nice to have

• Experience with Ensembl, EVA or other EMBL-EBI resources
• Workflow managers, HPC and databases; Python, GraphQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL or DuckDB
• Developing or applying AI methods for genome annotation
• Leading work packages in multi-partner grants, public-private partnerships, or chairing international technical committees

Pay and location

Grade 9, from £6,251.96 a month after tax, excluding personal pension and insurance contributions, plus allowances based on family circumstances. EMBL lists benefits including a pension scheme, private medical insurance, 30 days’ annual leave, hybrid working and a relocation package; non-UK residents also receive visa exemptions, an education grant and support for travel home. The contract is five years, renewable to a maximum of nine.

How to apply

Apply through the official EMBL page. The closing date is 11 October 2026 (23:59 CET). Submit a cover letter and CV through EMBL’s online system; EMBL aims to reply within two weeks of the closing date.

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