Bioinformatics Scientist

About the role

The Bioinformatics Scientist will conduct research, training, and evaluate next-generation bioinformatics and data management tools. They will collaborate with experts in artificial intelligence, machine learning, molecular biology, software engineering, and interface with experimentalists to generate large datasets for pathogen detection and surveillance.

Responsibilities

• Analyze metagenomic datasets from environmental and clinical samples to determine taxonomy and function.
• Research, develop, and implement computational and statistical techniques for analyzing novel and unknown sequences.
• Develop simulation-based and agent-based tools for hypothesis generation and in silico testing.
• Contribute to biological data management such as metadata schemas, databases, data catalogs, and integrated workflows.
• Contribute to and influence the development of innovative projects, principles, and ideas in biosurveillance and biodetection.
• Interact with technical contacts at sponsor and partner organizations routinely; represent the organization on specific technical projects.
• Determine, propose, and implement advanced analysis methodologies and contribute to identifying future research directions and proposals that will secure future projects in the field.
• Contribute to the completion of project milestones, balance multiple projects/tasks and priorities to ensure deadlines are met, working independently with minimal direction within the scope of assignments.
• Lead the development of manuscripts and presentations documenting project activities and research results.
• Oversee the activities of other personnel, providing informal mentoring and guidance to less experienced team members.

Requirements

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Master’s degree in Computational Biology, Biophysics, Computational Bioengineering, Machine Learning, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or equivalent combination of education and related technical experience.
• Significant experience in metagenomics, bacterial genomics, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis.
• Advanced experience in scientific computing tools such as C/C++, Python, R, MATLAB, Nextflow, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and HPC schedulers.
• Significant experience developing and deploying end-to-end workflows for pathogen detection, taxonomic classification, genome assembly, subtyping, and metagenomic analysis.
• Proven ability to translate mission needs into scalable, reusable analytical frameworks and tools, with experience supporting both research and operational bioinformatics activities.
• Advanced experience in large data management such as metadata schema development, data cataloging, database development, and integration with pipelines, AI/ML models and workflows.
• Significant experience with high-performance computing, GPU programming, parallel programming, cloud computing, and/or running numerical simulations of complex workflows.

Qualifications

• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate within a team environment and present technical information to varied audiences.
• Effective interpersonal skills and initiative necessary to interact with all levels of personnel and work independently in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.
• Advanced ability to balance multiple projects, prioritize competing demands while maintaining high-quality standards, and provide guidance and informal mentoring to other personnel and junior team members.
• Ability to represent the organization as a primary technical contact and to contribute to the development of innovative projects, principles, and ideas.

Pay

$175,530 - $222,564 annually

Schedule

Career Indefinite