In this issue:

• Building a Career in Bioinformatics
• ISCBacademy Upcoming Webinar

ISCB Career Center

If you're looking for your next opportunity in bioinformatics and computational biology, explore open positions from around the globe in the ISCB Career Center. Click the button below to search opportunities available in the ISCB Career Center!

Building a Career in Bioinformatics

In bioinformatics, learning never stands still. As data-driven discovery expands across disciplines, so do the skills needed to support it. The recently published extension of the ISCB Competency Framework in Bioinformatics Advances offers a roadmap for bioinformatics professionals to grow through every stage of their careers—from early-career scientists to facility managers and team leaders.

Developed through the ISCB BioInfoCore and Education communities, the framework defines six additional competencies tailored to professionals in bioinformatics core facilities. These include project and people management, collaboration, user engagement, and training—skills that reflect the real-world demands of working at the intersection of biology, technology, and teamwork.

By mapping technical expertise alongside leadership and communication skills, the framework makes career progression in bioinformatics more visible and attainable than ever before. Explore the full framework and additional resources on the Bioinformatics Competency Hub.

Inside Industry: Bioinformatics Careers in Focus

Wednesday, November 12

Looking to explore career paths beyond academia? Join ISCB’s new Inside Industry roundtable series to hear from professionals who’ve built rewarding careers in bioinformatics—from product management and marketing to applied research. Learn how they got started, what their work looks like day to day, and the many directions a bioinformatics degree can take you.

ISCB members can join the webinar by logging in to ISCB Nucleus; non-members can register for Nucleus access here.

Resigning Gracefully:
How to Leave Your Job on Good Terms

Leaving a job is a professional milestone that can feel both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re moving to a new opportunity or you’re ready for a change, how you handle your departure can leave a lasting impression.

Exiting with care and professionalism preserves relationships, strengthens your reputation, and opens doors for future collaboration. We’ll explore how to navigate the resignation process with grace, from communicating your decision to ensuring a smooth transition and leaving on the best possible terms.

Communicate With Professionalism

No matter why you’re leaving your role, it’s professional courtesy to give official notice of your resignation, and to do so with as much notice as possible. While two weeks’ notice is standard in many workplaces, take a moment to review your company’s resignation notice policy and to consider the complexity of your position. The more responsibilities or ongoing projects you manage, the more time your team may need to prepare for your transition.

When it’s time to share your decision, schedule a formal conversation with your supervisor to discuss your resignation and provide them with your formal resignation letter before notifying others. Keep the conversation positive and your message concise. This isn’t the time to vent frustrations, even if your reasons for leaving are difficult. Express gratitude for the opportunities you’ve had and all that you’ve learned, clearly state your last working day, and include only the details necessary to support a smooth handover.

Support a Smooth Transition

Your final weeks in a role often leave the strongest impression on colleagues and supervisors. Even if you’re not immediately stepping into a new position, maintaining professionalism during this time helps preserve positive relationships and can make all the difference when you need references later on. Put simple: don’t “quiet quit” early. Stay engaged and dependable from the moment you give notice until your last day.

One way to make your exit seamless is to create a standard operating procedure (SOP) document for your role. Outline your key projects, contacts, and workflows to make the handover easier. If your replacement has already been identified, take an active role in helping them get up to speed. Sharing your SOP in advance, meeting with them regularly, or allowing them to shadow you during your final weeks provides space for questions and ensures a smoother transition for everyone involved.

Leave Relationships Intact

One of the most overlooked parts of resigning is maintaining the relationships you’ve built. Even if you’re ready to move on, those connections remain valuable to your career growth and professional reputation. Taking a few intentional steps to leave on good terms can make all the difference.

Prior to leaving your role, take time to thank mentors, collaborators, and teammates who’ve supported you along the way. Reaching out personally, even with a quick note, can go a long way toward leaving a positive impression. Connect with colleagues on LinkedIn or other professional platforms to stay in touch, and resist the urge to indulge in office gossip or frustration on your way out. A gracious farewell speaks volumes about your professionalism and helps keep doors open for future opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re stepping into a new role or exploring an entirely new direction, remember that a career change is just that—a change. It’s not an ending! Every transition holds both closure and possibility. To make the most of those possibilities, it’s important to leave your role with grace and professionalism. This isn’t just good manners; it’s a mark of confidence and care for the path you’ve built. When you leave well, you carry your integrity forward, and that’s what opens doors to what comes next.

Want Your Job Featured in the Next Career Compass?

You can get your job featured in the Career Compass newsletter by selecting this option when you post a new job!

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the ISCB Career Center.

2. From your Profile page or My Job Posts page, click the blue “Post a Job” button.

3. On the next page, select option 2 that mentions the monthly marketing with Career Compass.

4. Complete the required payment for the Career Compass upgrade.

5. Fill out your job post details.

6. Click “Submit” to post your job on the ISCB Career Center.

7. Keep an eye out for the next Career Compass newsletter to see your job there, too!

Help us recognize excellence in
computational biology!

Each year, ISCB celebrates the individuals whose work, service, and leadership have shaped our field. With nominations for ISCB Awards and ISCB Fellows open, now is the time to recognize the remarkable scientists, mentors, and collaborators who inspire you.

ISCB Awards Nominations

Do you know someone who stands out in the computational biology or bioinformatics community? Nominate them for an ISCB Award and help us celebrate their impact on the field.
Submit your nomination: https://www.iscb.org/iscb-awards
Deadline: December 8, 2025

ISCB Fellows Nominations

The ISCB Fellows Program honors members who have made outstanding contributions through research, service, and leadership, and whose work continues to influence our community.
Learn more: https://www.iscb.org/fellows 
Submit a nomination: https://www.iscb.org/fellow-nomination
Deadline: December 15, 2025

Join us in celebrating the excellence, innovation, and dedication that define our global computational biology community by submitting your nomination today!

ISMB 2026 is now accepting Technology Track and Tutorial proposals

Tutorial Submissions

Tutorials provide hands-on training and in-depth exploration of both established and emerging topics, helping participants expand their knowledge and practical experience.

As tutorials serve an educational function, they should provide a balanced perspective on a field of research. Sessions may include talks or panel discussions, but should also include hands-on exercises that provide a deeper insight and understanding of the subject matter.

Submission deadline: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Technology Track Submissions

The Technology Track offers organizations an opportunity to showcase software and hardware innovations relevant to the bioinformatics community. 

Presentations should highlight the practical applications and benefits of the technology being demonstrated. 

To participate, organizations must submit an online sign-up form that includes a brief (50-word) description of the talk and a one-page overview detailing the technology. 

Submission deadline: Thursday, April 23, 2026

The early bird registration window for 

GIW ISCB-Asia closes in 10 days!

Join us this December in Hong Kong to connect with colleagues in bioinformatics and computational biology from around the world!

What to expect at the conference:
🔹 Inspiring keynote talks from leading experts
🔹 Panels, presentations, and posters highlighting the latest research
🔹 Opportunities for collaboration and professional growth

Register by Friday, October 31, 2025 to take advantage of the early bird registration pricing.

We look forward to welcoming you to GIW ISCB-Asia 2025!

In this issue:

Featured jobs:

• Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Computational Oncology

Article: Navigating Workplace Dynamics

Career Compass Featured Jobs

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Computational Oncology

University of Tübingen, Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics

Tübingen, Germany

KohlbacherLab.org

Job description:

The chair for Applied Bioinformatics at the University of Tübingen, Germany (Prof. Oliver Kohlbacher) is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in Computational Oncology.
Position Details
Start Date: negotiable, available immediately
Duration: 3 years (initially)
Working Hours: Full-time (100%)
Salary: According to German salary scale TV-L E13

Description

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team focused on applying bioinformatics to personalized oncology. The primary objective is to unravel molecular pathways of cancer by analyzing and integrating multi-omics and clinical data.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret multi-omics datasets, including genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical data from over 7,000 cases treated in molecular tumor boards.

• Develop and implement bioinformatics pipelines to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

• Collaborate with clinicians and researchers to translate computational findings into clinical applications.

• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.

• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the academic environment of the institute.
  
  

Opportunities

• Access to a unique and comprehensive dataset combining genomic and clinical information from a large cohort of cancer patients.

• Potential to establish an independent research group for candidates with a strong publication record and leadership potential.

• Engagement with the University of Tübingen’s vibrant research community and participation in collaborative projects within the Clusters of Excellence ‘Machine Learning for Science’ and ‘Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies (iFIT)’.
  
  

Qualifications

Requirements

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.

• Demonstrated expertise in analyzing high-throughput sequencing data and developing bioinformatics tools.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics software.

• Strong understanding of cancer biology and molecular oncology is advantageous.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team

Previous experience in using machine learning methods will be beneficial.

Navigating Workplace Dynamics

Workplace dynamics—often labeled as the more negatively toned “office politics”—are about how people interact, how workplace culture takes shape, and how relationships are built at work. It might seem intimidating, especially if you’re starting a new job, but navigating these dynamics is more straightforward than it seems, and you can do so while protecting your integrity and building positive connections.

Read on for suggestions on how to confidently navigate workplace dynamics!

Understand the Landscape

No matter how long you’ve been there, understanding a company’s culture helps you navigate daily interactions and make sense of how things get done. Culture shows up in company values, communication styles, and even the unwritten rules that shape daily life.

Workplace culture also reveals itself in how decisions are made and communicated. Are managers the sole decision-makers? Are certain colleagues especially influential? Is team input encouraged? Observing these patterns helps you see where the real conversations happen and how you can contribute effectively.

Taking time to understand both the culture and decision-making processes equips you to navigate workplace dynamics with clarity and confidence.

Build Trust and Collaboration

Trust and collaboration form the foundation of strong workplace relationships (and being positive doesn’t hurt either!). When you show reliability, transparency, and a genuine willingness to work together, you create connections that support both your success and the success of others. To build trust and collaboration in the workplace:

• Prioritize reliability. Meet deadlines, follow through on commitments, and communicate proactively if something changes.

• Be transparent. Share credit, acknowledge challenges openly, and always share information that will help others do their jobs.

• Seek out connections beyond your immediate circle. Building relationships across departments or teams shows that you value collaboration, not just your own group’s success.

• Listen first, then contribute. Take the time to understand others’ perspectives before contributing to a discussion. Doing so shows respect and helps strengthen working relationships.

• Offer help where you can. Whether you share expertise, pitch in on a project, or make introductions, small acts of support demonstrate goodwill and create reciprocity.

Use Emotional Intelligence as Your Compass

Emotional intelligence can help guide workplace relationships by improving self-awareness, empathy, and emotional self-regulation. Here’s how each of these skills can help you navigate workplace dynamics:

• Self-awareness: Recognize your triggers and biases so you can manage or avoid them, reducing misunderstandings and keeping workplace interactions productive.
  
  

• Empathy: Put yourself in others’ shoes to better understand differing perspectives. Empathy also encourages active listening, helping you respond with understanding rather than assumption, and contribute to a more supportive, collaborative environment.
  
  

• Self-regulation: Self-regulation helps you manage impulses and stay calm under pressure. By responding thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively, you maintain professionalism no matter the situation.

Hold Boundaries Gracefully

Being clear about your limits helps protect your values and shows others where you stand. What’s more, setting personal and professional boundaries is important to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Part of holding boundaries gracefully is balancing professionalism with authenticity. You can be courteous and cooperative without always saying yes or pretending to agree with everything, all while staying approachable and honoring your own principles.

Final Thoughts

Navigating workplace dynamics doesn’t have to be difficult, nor does it have to mean getting caught up in office politics. Learning the environment, building meaningful relationships, and making choices that align with your values can make work a place you look forward to going instead of a place you dread being at every day. As you strengthen these skills, you’ll not only grow personally but also help shape a more positive, collaborative workplace.

Want Your Job Featured in the Next Career Compass?

You can get your job featured in the Career Compass newsletter by selecting this option when you post a new job!

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the ISCB Career Center.

2. From your Profile page or My Job Posts page, click the blue “Post a Job” button.

3. On the next page, select option 2 that mentions the monthly marketing with Career Compass.

4. Complete the required payment for the Career Compass upgrade.

5. Fill out your job post details.

6. Click “Submit” to post your job on the ISCB Career Center.

7. Keep an eye out for the next Career Compass newsletter to see your job there, too!

From the Asian Student Council Symposium 2025 Chair:

We invite you to submit abstracts to the 4th Asian Student Council Symposium (#ASCS2025), taking place in Hong Kong on 10th December 2025, preceding the International Conference on Genome Informatics ISCB-Asia (GIW XXXIV ISCB-ASIA 2025) 🎉

The symposium will take place in hybrid mode, as a pre-conference event of the GIW ISCB-Asia2025, on 10th December 2025 in Hong Kong.

It will bring together leading experts in the fields of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology through keynote talks of Prof. Sung Wing Kin (Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) (Details of other keynotes and panelists will be released soon), a career-focused panel discussion on "Emerging Trends in Computational Biology: What to Look Out for in the Coming Decade" besides hosting exciting competitions as well as talks by students and early career researchers in the form of oral, poster, and flash talk presentations.

Follow our updates through our website, and social media handles.

Our event is a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insight from fellow researchers, establish a network, and learn about cutting-edge research in the field.

Call for Submissions:
Become a part of this exciting symposium and submit your research abstract here.
Extended Deadline: 11th October 2025

Registration:
Whether you’re attending in person or virtually, registration is mandatory. You can register through #GIW-ISCB Asia Registration system.

For further details, please visit our website here or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

GIW ISCB-Asia update: 

Late-breaking poster submissions are now open

If you missed the initial abstract submission deadline for GIW ISCB-Asia, there's still a chance to present your work as a poster at the conference!

Submission deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025

We look forward to seeing your work at GIW/ISCB-Asia 2025!