Life Science Research Professional 3

About the Role

The Laboratory of Jesse Engreitz (Department of Genetics, BASE Initiative) is seeking a Research Scientist in CRISPR Genomics to lead large-scale data production projects aimed at understanding the genetic basis of heart diseases. The Engreitz Laboratory, located in the Biomedical Innovations Building on Stanford University's main campus, is part of the BASE Initiative within the Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center.

The project focuses on mapping the complex regulatory wiring connecting 2 million regulatory elements with 21,000 genes and their associated pathways across diverse cell types in the human body. The lab has developed new approaches to enable this mapping at scale (e.g., Fulco et al. Science 2016, Fulco & Nasser et al. Nat Genet 2019, Martyn & Montgomery et al. Cell 2025, Gschwind* et al. Nature 2026) and applied these to study the genetic basis of complex diseases (e.g., Schnitzler et al. Nature 2024). The goal is to expand these studies to systematically map the functions of variants, enhancers, and genes in heart and vasculature cell types, ultimately training predictive models of genome function to uncover mechanisms of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, and other heart diseases.

Responsibilities

• Make fundamental discoveries about gene regulation and the genetics of cardiovascular disease.
• Design and execute scientific projects in collaboration with the PI and other lab members.
• Collect comprehensive perturbation datasets to inform genome function and enable training of predictive models.
• Develop and apply strategies to study enhancers and genes in human cells and mouse models.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies, approaches, and problems.
• Supervise, train, and collaborate with other lab members in experimental techniques, scientific design, and other skills.
• Design and lead independent projects.
• Collaborate with a team of experimentalists and computational biologists.
• Create scientifically rigorous visualizations, communications, and presentations of results.
• Contribute to the generation of protocols, publications, and intellectual property.
• Design research approaches, including background research, experimental design, execution, problem-solving, and writing for publication.
• Develop new protocols and evaluate a variety of approaches.
• Conduct complex experiments, maintain detailed records, and analyze data from original procedures.
• Assist with new research proposals and funding applications.
• Prepare progress reports on all phases of the research project.
• Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams across different faculties or schools.
• Contribute substantively to publications, especially in the results section, and present findings at academic conferences.
• Perform ongoing literature reviews to remain current with new procedures and propose new research directions.
• Oversee supply and equipment budgets under minimal supervision.
• Ensure lab compliance with health and safety regulations and required trainings.
• Formally supervise and train new staff or students, including hiring and performance management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific field and four years of relevant work experience; or Master’s degree in a related scientific field and two years of relevant experience; or PhD in a related science field.
• Hands-on experience in cellular genomics, molecular biology, and technology development.
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.
• Curiosity in research and creativity in problem-solving.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Experience building or managing teams.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to adapt to and manage changes in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for science and a sense of urgency to find new medicines to benefit patients.

Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of scientific principles.
• Expert-level knowledge and skills in the field of science related to the research project.
• General computer skills, experience with databases and scientific applications, and ability to quickly learn new computer programs.
• Strong analytical skills and excellent judgment.
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to complete detailed work accurately.
• Developing project management skills.