Scientific Literature Biocurator

Overview Of Role

Are you a scientific literature curator looking for a part time role?

We have an exciting chance for you to join the pathogen-host interactions (PHI-base) team.

The PHI-base database is publicly funded and freely available at http://www.phi-base.org. For the last 20 years, this database has catalogued experimentally verified pathogenicity, virulence and effector genes from fungal, bacterial and protist pathogens, which infect animal, plant, fish, insect and/or fungal hosts. (Urban et al. (2022) Nucleic Acids Research, doi 10.1093/nar/gkab1037)

This knowledge base is used by research scientists investigating many different aspects of the health of humans, animals, cropped plant species, and ecosystems.

You would be working as a biocurator to curate new information into PHI-base from the peer-reviewed literature. Reviewing information submitted to PHI-base by other researchers and professional curators.

The main duties of this role are:

• Literature curation: curate information from publications on pathogen-host interactions and add this to PHI-base by using the PHI-Canto curation tool (https://demo-canto.phi-base.org), Cuzick et al., (2023) doi 10.7554/ eLife.84658


• Ontology development: define new concepts and improve existing concepts in the Pathogen-Host Interaction Phenotype Ontology (PHIPO) and other ontologies developed by the PHI-base team. Also, reuse existing concepts from ontologies and controlled vocabularies developed by other teams (such as the Gene Ontology and the BRENDA Tissue Ontology).


• Literature triage: review monthly batches of publications suggested by our long-term subcontractor (Molecular Connections Pvt Ltd.) and select publications that should be curated by the subcontractor.


• Curation review: review the curation submitted by other curators from the pathogen-host research community (also using the PHI-Canto curation tool). Ensure quality control on the curation performed by Molecular Connections.


• Curation training and knowledge exchange: help to familiarise researchers from other teams in the UK and elsewhere, with the PHI-Canto curation tool and the PHI-base curation process. Share your experience with curation with other interested groups.

You would also be responsible for:

• Presenting internally to colleagues and externally at scientific conferences


• Assisting with grant applications and reports for UKRI


• Writing manuscripts for publication in a range of journals through peer review.

Does this sound like the role for you? Apply now!

About The Company

Established in 1843, Rothamsted Research is one of the UK's leading Research Institutes delivering world class agricultural science. Our commitment to learning and development, equality, diversity and inclusion and flexibility in working arrangements creates a positive work life balance and enables a welcoming environment for all prospective employees.

As a Disability Confident Employer we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and all disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. If this is required, please contact us. Applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or age are welcomed, providing the required criteria is met.

We have an attractive benefits package including 30 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and an attractive campus offering cultural and recreational activities.