AGC: Open rank faculty position on Computational Genomics

Description of the center: The African Genome Center (AGC), a research-focused entity, operates through four key research axes: Biodiversity Genomics, OMICS and Metabolic Engineering, Genome Editing, and Natural Product Chemistry and Metabolomics. Hosting an advanced genomics platform, it aims to serve as a central hub for genome biology research and training in Morocco and Africa.

The AGC Team is an international and multicultural scientific community. Its primary mission is to democratize genomics research on the African continent. This involves conducting both basic and applied scientific research in areas such as agriculture, conservation, environment, food security, and health. Additionally, the center is committed to contributing to technological transfers and training highly qualified personnel.

The African Genome Centre is seeking to appoint an Open Rank faculty member specializing in Computational Genomics, with a primary emphasis on de novo Genome analyses of short and long-read data, particularly for its Biodiversity Genomics research axis. The prospective candidate is expected to develop a multidisciplinary research program in biodiversity genomics, focusing on de novo genome sequencing across various organisms, such as microbes, plants, or animals. This includes the development of algorithms, pipelines, and tools for analyzing genomic data.

Responsibilities: Primary responsibilities encompass:

• Supervising graduate students and postdocs in Big Data Biology, including Data Structures and Algorithms, Machine Learning (ML), and Computer Programming in languages such as Python and JAVA.
• Applying artificial and machine learning techniques to biological data analysis, genomics, and next-generation data analysis.
• Develop ML algorithm for the automatic detection, identification, and prediction of pests and diseases in agricultural crops.
• Developing collaborative research programs in computational genomics for biodiversity and genome biology.
• Supporting institutional research and academic programs and actively participating in institutional activities.

Eligibility:

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Proven expertise in Computational Genomics demonstrated through publications and research projects.
• Significant experience in analyzing Next-Generation Sequencing data, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML).
• Proficiency in scripting and implementing algorithms in programming languages such as Python, Java, R, etc.
• Application of AI and ML for analyzing biological data.
• Effective communication skills across multiple audiences.
• Evidence of commitment to research and training.

For more information, visit the AGC website: http://agc.um6p.ma or email: Pr. Mohamed Hijri. Mohamed.hijri@um6p.ma