About OICR

OICR is Ontario’s cancer research institute. We bring together people from across the province and around the world to improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer. We take on the biggest challenges in cancer research and deliver real-world solutions to find cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. We are committed to helping people living with cancer, as well as future generations, live longer and healthier lives.

Launched in December 2005, OICR is an independent institute funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Job Details

Position: Manager, Genome Interpretation

Location: MaRS Centre, Toronto

Department: Genome Sequence Informatics

Reports To: Director, Genome Sequence Informatics

Salary: Commensurate with level of experience; total compensation includes a competitive benefits plan, plus a defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP)

Hours: 35 hours/week

Job Type: On-site

Status: Full-time, Permanent

Position Summary

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is seeking a Manager for the Cancer Genome Interpretation group, part of the Genome Sequence Informatics (GSI) team.

The Cancer Genome Interpretation (CGI) manager oversees a team of bioinformaticians, research/scientific associates, and software developers in the development and reporting of clinical genomics reports. You will coordinate the design, execution, and validation of the interpretation SOPs for genomics sequencing results and ensure conformance to CAP/CLIA and ISO guidelines. You will also oversee the research and development of bioinformatics pipelines to keep up to date with current best practices in the field. This role sits within the Genome Sequence Informatics (GSI) core group and reports directly to the Genomics Program Associate Director, GSI. GSI is the core bioinformatics team for the OICR Genomics program, performing analysis, controlling the data life cycle, and creating useful and dynamic reports at scale. We ensure data flows smoothly, securely, and correctly from the lab through to the clinicians and researchers who use it.

GSI has six focus areas:

• Lab tracking: Develop and support the open-source laboratory information management system MISO LIMS and associated applications
• Pipeline/Data management: Automate and streamline data analysis, tracking, and workflow management using workflow systems like Cromwell
• Data release: Archive data for long-term storage and release data to collaborators and public archives
• Reporting: Maintain a suite of specialized reports for quality control, forecasting, and lab operations
• Analysis: Perform project-specific analysis for collaborators, including alignment, de novo assembly, variant detection, quantification of tumour heterogeneity and purity, RNAseq analysis, variant significance prediction, and structural variant calling and any other specific project requirements.
• Interpretation: Analyze and interpret genomic data using accredited pipelines and processes and draft reports for clinical cases.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate a team of cancer genome interpreters to generate clinical genome reports incorporating genome, transcriptome, cell-free, and other emerging genomic data types
• Oversee the design and execution of genomic interpretation SOPs for the generation of CAP/CLIA approved clinical reports
• Lead validation of clinical testing algorithms, including coordination with managers of laboratory staff
• Make recommendations and improvements to the clinical bioinformatics pipeline
• Support and work with clinical geneticists, physicians, investigators, and research fellows in the interpretation of clinical reports generated by the team
• Participate in molecular tumour boards and recommend potential follow up experiments
• Evaluate the capability of state-of-the art methods to make useful predictions of molecular, cellular, or organismal phenotypes from genomic data.
• Investigate clinical applications of newer laboratory and computational techniques (methylation sequencing, immune inference, mutational signatures, cell-free DNA sequencing)
• Identify bottlenecks in genome interpretation that suggest especially critical areas of future research.
• Track new innovations in the field
  

Qualifications

• Completion of a Master’s degree in a scientific discipline, preferably in bioinformatics, oncology, genetics, molecular biology, or recognized equivalent
  
• Deep hands-on technical expertise and excellent analytical abilities
  
• Acute attention to detail and rigor required for developing clinical testing applications
  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
  

For more information about OICR, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

POSTED DATE: September 12, 2024
CLOSING DATE: Until Filled

OICR is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we support an inclusive culture for all. We welcome all applicants, and encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to furthering a diversity of ideas within our community. OICR is committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience. Providing an accessible workplace and recruitment process is important to us, as described in our Accessibility Plan (https://oicr.on.ca/accessibility/). Should you require accommodation during any stage in the recruitment process, please complete the form at the bottom of page https://oicr.on.ca/careers/. Information received related to accommodation will be handled confidentially.

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The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research thanks all applicants. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.