Senior Research Associate, Computational Biology
Colossal Biosciences
Summary
An affiliate of Colossal is seeking a talented Senior Research Associate in computational biology with strong analytical skills to tackle challenging genotype-to-phenotype questions. The successful candidate will collaborate with scientists and engineers to perform bioinformatics analyses and integrate genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets to support Colossal Bioscience's de-extinction efforts.
Job description
Duties and Responsibilities
- Run data analysis with biological data
- Run comparative, functional, and statistical genomics analysis
- Develop new tools in R/Python for data analysis and visualization
- Maintain electronic laboratory records and prepare reports or presentations to communicate findings to wet-bench biologists and leadership
Required Skills and Abilities
- Two years of bioinformatics experience in the following areas: Functional Genomics / Multi-Omics, Comparative Genomics, Molecular Evolution, or Applied Statistics in Genomics
- Capable of leveraging knowledge across multiple levels of biological organization to validate the outputs of complex, integrative analyses
- Demonstrated 2 years of experience with scripting languages, including but not limited to: Python, R, Perl, Ruby, Java, and BASH
- Ability to write and run custom bioinformatics scripts using existing published tools and occasionally tools developed to summarize the results in a digestible manner and deliver the information using established reporting procedures
- Proficiency with handling large-scale genomic data in an HPC (SGE, SLURM, PBS) Linux and/or cloud environment (e.g. AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
- Experience in using GIT version control software and maintaining well-documented, reproducible notebooks and workflows
- Ability to design and maintain databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and connect with visual platforms to curate and share data with non-bioinformatics team members
- Self-motivated, proactive, and detail oriented, along with the ability to perform well under pressure and deadlines
- Enthusiasm for learning new skills and taking on new responsibilities
- Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as creative problem-solving skills
- Able to excel in a fast-paced startup environment and participate in team-driven science
Preferred Skills and Abilities
- Executing rigorous analyses of diverse functional epigenomics approaches (e.g., RNA-seq and ATAC-seq) and integrating multi-omics datasets to aid in understanding of gene expression regulation
- Constructing, interpreting, and utilizing pangenome graphs, whole genome alignments, and gene homology relationships
- Familiarity in producing and curating genomic resources (e.g., reference genomes and gene annotations) for vertebrate organisms, especially in non-traditional model systems
- Experience calling germline and somatic sequence variants from high-coverage WGS, low-coverage WGS with imputation, and sequencing libraries from degraded or ancient DNA
- Understanding of precision gene editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 systems
Education and Experience
Bachelors with 2 years of experience or Masters in quantitative or basic science (computer science, computational biology, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, or mathematics preferred) is required
Requirements
- Two years of bioinformatics experience in Functional Genomics / Multi-Omics, Comparative Genomics, Molecular Evolution, or Applied Statistics in Genomics
- Demonstrated 2 years of experience with scripting languages, including but not limited to: Python, R, Perl, Ruby, Java, and BASH
- Proficiency with handling large-scale genomic data in an HPC (SGE, SLURM, PBS) Linux and/or cloud environment (e.g. AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
- Experience in using GIT version control software and maintaining well-documented, reproducible notebooks and workflows
- Ability to design and maintain databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and connect with visual platforms to curate and share data with non-bioinformatics team members
- Self-motivated, proactive, and detail oriented, along with the ability to perform well under pressure and deadlines
- Enthusiasm for learning new skills and taking on new responsibilities
- Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as creative problem-solving skills
- Able to excel in a fast-paced startup environment and participate in team-driven science
- Bachelors with 2 years of experience or Masters in quantitative or basic science (computer science, computational biology, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, or mathematics preferred) is required
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Paid Time Off
- Company Holidays
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) Matching
- Paid Parental Leave
- Education Reimbursement
Company overview
Colossal Biosciences is a pioneering American biotechnology and genetic engineering company founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist George Church and serial entrepreneur Ben Lamm. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company specializes in developing radical new technologies to advance the field of genomics and species restoration. Colossal is the first company to apply CRISPR gene-editing technology for the purpose of species de-extinction, beginning with ambitious projects to revive the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, dodo bird, dire wolf, and other extinct species. The company's mission extends beyond de-extinction to include protection of critically endangered species and repopulation of critical ecosystems that support biodiversity and ecosystem health. With over 170 scientists and advisors, Colossal combines cutting-edge genetic engineering with conservation biology to address the global biodiversity crisis. The company has raised significant funding, achieving unicorn status and becoming Texas' first decacorn with a valuation exceeding $10 billion. Beyond its scientific endeavors, Colossal has spun out software platforms like Form Bio and established the Colossal Foundation to support conservation efforts worldwide.