Wellcome Sanger Institute

The Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world-leading genomics research centre, based on the Wellcome Genome Campus- arguably the largest single-site community of expertise in Genomes and BioData in the world. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine, tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. This demands science at scale: a visionary and creative approach that pushes the boundaries of our understanding in ever new and exciting ways. Open and collaborative, we share our data, results, tools and technologies across the globe to advance science. 

Our Scientific Objectives

We focus on three objectives where large-scale genomic data is essential for advancing fundamental knowledge, each of which will deliver opportunities for societal benefit, and the combination of three reflects where Sanger can have the most impact:

• Disease genomics – deciphering the molecular underpinnings of health and disease
• Engineering genomics – elucidating how DNA sequences encode biological functions
• Planetary genomics – understanding planetary biology through genome sequences of diverse species 

Read more about our Scientific Strategy

Sanger Institute science is fundamentally based on propositions about transformative genomic datasets, starting with the human genome itself. Our 30-35 faculty are distributed across six Programmes of research. The scientific vision of each Programme is bold, distinctive and has transformative potential. Our science is organised into six Scientific Programmes, each defining a major area of research with a particular biological, disease, analytic or generative focus:

• Somatic Genomics: Understand the causes of and consequences of DNA mutations throughout the body and over the course of life. For more information, please visit https://www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/somatic-genomics/
• Cellular Genomics: Define the cell types in the human body by studying expression of genes in single cells. For more information, please visit www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/cellular-genetics/
• Generative Genomics: Predict and programme molecular biology by synthesising and engineering genomes. For more information, please visit https://www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/generative-genomics/
• Human Genetics: Discover the mutated genes that cause rare and common diseases. For more information, please visit www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/human-genetics/.
• Parasites and Microbes: Understand the evolution of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases. For more information, please visit www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/parasites-and-microbes/
• Tree of Life: Sequence the genomes of all species of life on Earth (starting with the UK and Ireland). For more information, please visit www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/tree-of-life/

Life at Sanger Institute is unique. Set across 130 acres, just outside of Cambridge, our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges. We have over 1,100 staff members and 500 visiting workers from 70+ nationalities. 

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability, Gender Equity and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We have developed an ambitious programme of activity that drives organisational culture change, empowers our leadership and ensures that equity and inclusion principles are embedded across all of our processes – from recruitment, promotion, reward, to accessing career development opportunities.

Visit www.sanger.ac.uk/about/careers for further information. 

Keep up to date via our blog and social media channels:

Blog: https://sangerinstitute.blog      
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