HudsonAlpha - Computational Biologist I - Cochran Lab

Position: Computational Biologist I - Cochran Lab

Job Type: Full-Time

INSTITUTE OVERVIEW

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (www.hudsonalpha.org) is a non-profit organization with the mission to use biotechnology and basic biological research to make important discoveries, improve human health, stimulate economic development, inspire young people to seek careers in science and teach members of the public the importance of science in their everyday lives. Located in Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama, one of the world's leading science and technology parks, HudsonAlpha's campus contains state-of-the-art laboratories for biological research and development, as well as education, in the areas of genomics, genetics and personalized medicine.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The J. Nicholas Cochran laboratory uses genomic approaches to answer biological questions specific to neurodegenerative diseases with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Therefore, while not required, subject area familiarity and/or interest in genetics, genomics, neuroscience, or neurodegenerative diseases is desirable. Projects include study of gene regulation for genes implicated in neurodegeneration, novel analysis approaches for associating genetic variation with neurodegenerative diseases, and genome-wide genomics approaches relevant to neurodegeneration.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Computational Biologist I uses lab-generated or publicly available data to answer specific biological questions. By applying computational methods, the Computational Biologist I is integral to processing and analyzing the large amount of data generated in or accessed by a genomics laboratory. The ideal candidate will be comfortable constructing bioinformatics pipelines that interface with internal and external resources using languages commonly employed in bioinformatics (ie bash, Perl, Python, and R, both locally and in a cluster computing environment).

JOB SPECIFIC TASKS

The Computational Biologist I will:

• Understand the biological science behind the laboratory projects
• Collaborate with the research team to plan and execute computational applications
• Manage access, management, and processing for large biological datasets
• Develop publicly available resources for generated data
• Contribute to peer-reviewed research papers
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND REQUIRED SKILLS EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor degree in computational biology, biostatistics, or related quantitative field; master's degree a plus
• Knowledge of current bioinformatics approaches
• Ability to apply computational approaches to biological data, as demonstrated through previous work or academic experience
• Excellent programming skills in one or more languages (ie bash, Perl, Python, R)
• Strong understanding of statistics and quantitative data analysis, as demonstrated through previous work or academic experience
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrating ability to understand objectives of research team
• Proficient with MS Office
• Fluency with UNIX and able to function in a cluster computing environment is preferred

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/Mental Functions

ADA Requirements The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer - All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sit or stand) for prolonged periods (50% of the time).
• Occasionally move about the office (accessing files/storage, office equipment, computers and other office productivity devices, attending meetings, etc.).
• Constant use of common office equipment (e.g. computers, mobile devices, calculators, copiers, scanners).
• Close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Communicate in person and over the telephone.

Environmental Factors

• Perform work in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature.
• Tolerate moderate noise level (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).

Mental Functions

• Continuous mental and visual attention.
• Ability to focus on tasks despite interruptions and open cubicle environment.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in the English language.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Learn and apply new skills and information.
• Perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks.
• Read and interpret data, information, and documents.

It is the policy of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in accordance with all applicable laws, to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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