Research Scientist

Position Title : Research Scientist (Bioinformatics)
Location : Hybrid (Charlottesville, VA)
Application Deadline : September 30, 2024

About the Role :
The University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a Research Scientist with expertise in bioinformatics to join the Data Analytics Center (DAC) within Information Technology Services’ Research Computing (RC) . The DAC and RC support UVA’s cutting-edge research by providing computational expertise and infrastructure. As part of the DAC team, you will collaborate with researchers across the university, applying bioinformatics analysis to large datasets and contributing to innovative research in an inclusive and diverse environment.

Why Join UVA Information Technology Services (ITS) :
At UVA’s Information Technology Services (ITS), we value results, teamwork, and the creation of a welcoming, supportive workplace. We are an agile group committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, where all team members feel empowered to be their authentic selves and share ideas. ITS also promotes work-life balance by offering flexible work options.

Key Responsibilities :

• Provide bioinformatics support to UVA researchers, particularly in DNA/RNA sequencing and proteomics data analysis.
  

• Collaborate with researchers to design and implement customized analytical workflows tailored to their data and research objectives .
  

• Stay up-to-date with current bioinformatics techniques, including the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches.
  

• Develop and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing large-scale genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data.
  

• U se UVA’s Research Computing platforms to execute bioinformatics tools.
  

• Manage bioinformatics projects to ensure timely , rigorous scientific outcomes.
  

• Prepare technical reports and presentations to communicate findings.
  

• Provide training and workshops on bioinformatics best practices for the UVA community.
  

• Collaborate with the DAC team to share knowledge on programming techniques and best practices within Research Computing.
  

Minimum Qualifications :

• Advanced degree ( Master’s or higher) in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field.
  

• 8 + years of relevant work experience.
  

• Proficiency in programming languages (Python, R) and bioinformatics tools/databases (e.g., BLAST, Bowtie, BWA, CellRanger , DESeq2, edgeR , flowCore , Freebayes , HISAT2, SAMtools , Seurat, STAIR, GATK, Ensembl , NCBI) .
  

• Experience with bioinformatics pipelines for sequence data analysis.
  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  

• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
  

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse researchers and team members.
  

• US citizenship or permanent residency (due to high-security data environments).
  

Preferred Qualifications :

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field.
  

• 5 + years of experience in academic research.
  

• Expertise in high-throughput sequencing data analysis, including spatial genomics and single-cell RNA , whole-genome, and transcriptome sequencing.
  

• Knowledge of statistical methods and machine learning techniques for biological data analysis.
  

Employment Details :

• Full-time position with funding secured through June 2028 (continuation contingent on funding availability).
  

Benefits :

• Choose from three health plans, along with vision and dental coverage.
  

• Life insurance, short-term disability, and flexible spending accounts.
  

• Start with 22 days of paid time off per year, plus 12+ paid holidays.
  

• 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
  

• Tuition reimbursement: Up to $5,250 for degree-seeking programs or $2,000 for professional development (after 6 months of employment).
  

How to Apply :
To apply, please visit UVA’s job board at https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en/ and search for Job ID: R0065155 . Submit the following documents:

• Cover letter
  

• Resume
  

Application Deadline : September 30, 2024

Position Compensation Range: $77,949.00 - $155,897.00 Annual

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.