Bioinformatician II

22-Sep-2022

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

59872BR

Job Summary

The Harvard Chan Bioinformatics Core (HBC) is a center for bioinformatics research, services and training at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We work closely with biomedical scientists across Harvard to implement approaches for analysis, interpretation, visualization, and dissemination of scientific discoveries using high-throughput omics data.

Our multidisciplinary team works with biomedical research groups in the Harvard, MIT and Broad communities, and at local hospitals and industry. Our core has a strong educational mission. Members of the core participate in training activities, with the goal to enable experimentalists to analyze their data independently. The HBC emphasizes teamwork and a supportive environment where we learn from each other.

Position Description

The Bioinformatician will support selected research projects at the Harvard Chan School, Harvard and the broader Boston biomedical community. They will provide expertise in the use of specialized bioinformatics tools and analysis methods. They will collaborate with researchers to design, analyze and interpret experiments.

Coordinating with experienced Core staff, they will analyze incoming data using existing analytical approaches in the Core, and assess and/or develop new methods where appropriate. They will document their work thoroughly, adhere to NIH requirements for data management, and provide manuscript-level reporting of final analyses and results. They will summarize, analyze, and visualize data using advanced techniques, and present it clearly to collaborators. If interested, they will have opportunities to work with the training team to teach workshops and develop new training content geared towards Harvard graduate students, postdocs, research staff and faculty.

The Bioinformatician will support selected research projects at the Harvard Chan School, Harvard and the broader Boston biomedical community. Duties and responsibilities are:

• Provide expertise in the use of specialized bioinformatics tools and analysis methods
• Collaborate with researchers to design, analyze and interpret experiments.
• Analyze incoming data using existing analytical approaches in the Core, and assess and/or develop new methods where appropriate
• Document their work thoroughly, adhere to NIH requirements for data management, and provide manuscript-level reporting of final analyses and results
• Summarize, analyze, and visualize data using advanced techniques, and present it clearly to collaborators.
• Work with the training team to teach workshops and develop new training content geared towards Harvard graduate students, postdocs, research staff and faculty
• Other duties as assigned

PLEASE NOTE: This position has a term appointment of one year from the date of hire with the possibility for extension.

PLEASE NOTE: Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit a coding sample as part of the selection process.

PLEASE NOTE: The primary work location for this position is Boston, MA and in order to be on Harvard payroll, you must reside in one of the following states – MA, NH, RI, ME, CT, VT, NY, MD, or CA. Until our return to campus and full operational status, which is still to-be-determined, this interview process and position will take place in a slightly modified manner – including virtual interviews and a combination of remote and on-site onboarding and work. On-campus/in-person work is expected, though, upon start date – in accordance with approved COVID-related guidelines and protocols.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required
• 4 years of experience in an academic or industry setting required
• Expertise in at least one of the following HTS applications is required:
  • Whole genome or exome-sequencing
  • Transcriptomics (bulk, small or single cell RNA-seq)
  • Epigenomics (ChIP-seq or ATAC-seq)

Additional Qualifications and Skills

The following job-specific skills and competencies are preferred:

• Master’s degree
• Demonstrated ability to apply statistical approaches to analyze data, interpret and present results.
• Excellent analytical and programming skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with cancer datasets is a plus
• Ability to produce reproducible code (RMarkdown, Latex, Jupyter notebooks, etc)
• Experience with RShiny
• Experience with GitHub and previous publications
• Flexibility in adapting to changing research needs
• Strong, detailed-oriented writing and communication skills
• Experience working independently, as well as experience and/or desire to work in an interactive, collegial, and interdisciplinary group
• Excellent time management skills
• Interest in sharing expertise, training and/or teaching
• Strong interpersonal skills; experience and willingness to collaborate with and coordinate among other research groups

The following cultural competencies are also preferred:

• Awareness of and aptitude to appropriately and effectively understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based difference within group environments
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Skills related to creating and supporting an environment that allows for inclusion, effective intercultural engagement, and personal humility and authenticity

Physical Requirements

• Sitting using near vision use for reading and computer use for extended periods of time

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting

Additional Information

Harvard University offers an outstanding benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3-4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 12+ paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: Excellent and affordable medical, dental & vision plans, with coverage beginning as of an employee’s start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement Programs: $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School, discounted options through participating Harvard graduate schools, and reimbursement options for accredited schools outside of Harvard.
• Transportation: 50% discount on MBTA passes, as well as additional options (rideshare, biking, etc.) to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness & Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, hard & soft skills development, career planning, massages, nutrition, meditation, and complimentary health services. Additionally, access to Harvard athletic facilities, libraries, campus events — and many discounts for various cultural and leisure activities throughout metro Boston.

Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to support our mission of health research and education, and to be a part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the country!

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• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health does not provide visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for staff positions.
• Harvard University requires pre-employment reference checks and background screenings.
• This position has a 90 day orientation and review period.

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The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine Requirements . Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage .

Job Function

Research, Technical

Location

USA – MA – Boston

Job Code

RS0457 Bioinformaticist II

Union

00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe that diversity is integral to the Harvard experience and our mission of improving public health education, research and policy. Diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world enriches our community and enables us to best meet the public health needs of the United States and the world. Ongoing learning and development related to diversity allows for both individual and institutional growth, and is necessary to foster and sustain a culture of inclusion. To achieve this, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School. We maintain an unwavering dedication to diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core to our institutional values and to actively counter, minimize, and address racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, gender bias, and all forms of discrimination.

Learn more about the School’s mission, objectives, and core values and our diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.