Department
BSD CRI - Bioinformatics
About the Department
The BSD is the largest academic unit within the University. The BSD is comprised of faculty from ten basic science departments, 13 clinical departments, and several Centers and Institutes. The approximately 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff members working in the BSD collaborate across the organization to achieve our Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV):
MISSION: As part of the University of Chicago, we pursue globally impactful solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Through our rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing, we collaborate on life-changing advancements that create meaningful results for our community and the world, including a greater, more equitable future for all.
VISION: Together, we elevate the human experience with knowledge and health care.
VALUES:
• Commit to Excellence: We contribute our exceptional talents to all we do and empower the same spirit of excellence in others.
• Embrace Curiosity: We stay open to new ideas, champion diverse perspectives, and drive a culture of thoughtful risk-taking to deliver transformative innovation.
• Embody Equity: We identify systemic issues and then foster change to drive a more equitable environment inclusive of diverse people, ideas, and fields of science.
• Grow Together: We meaningfully collaborate with one another to create something bigger than we could ever achieve alone.
• Make a Difference: We lead with heart and compassion in all our interactions. We create positive change in our areas of influence, whether expanding scientific inquiry, developing the next generation of leaders, or healing our community.
• Take Ownership: We accomplish what we say we will and hold ourselves and one another accountable for our actions.
The MVV serves as our True North, charting our strategic plan for the next ten years and beyond. It is an exciting time to be a part of the University of Chicago and the BSD. Our team is helping shape the future for our learners, staff, faculty, patients, and community.
The Bioinformatics Core within the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division’s Center for Research Informatics offers highly skilled services and expertise designed to allow investigators to take full advantage of high-throughput technologies. The Bioinformatics Core’s work combines the use of powerful computing resources, advanced analytics tools, and a commitment to security to transform large amounts of raw data into meaningful results. Some of the services we provide include the bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput biological data, including genomics and proteomics, using our well-defined analysis pipelines; consulting services for custom analysis beyond our standard pipelines, including genome-wide association studies; and grant writing assistance, including assistance fully developing the bioinformatics components of a grant, cost analysis, letters of support, and documenting the availability of tools and expertise to complete the research indicated.
Job Summary
Responsibilities
Leads the bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput biological data, including but not limit to single cell transcriptome, single cell spatial data, bulk transcriptome data etc.
Applies state-of-the-art computational biology and bioinformatics methods and tools to generate new or validate existing testable hypotheses from complex and large biological datasets.
Leads the analysis of data resulting in a better understanding of human transcriptome, genetic variation and the association of medical information to uncover gene-disease links and new targets.
Works effectively with the faculty, clinicians, researchers and experimentalists, to implement novel or adapt existing approaches to optimize upstream and downstream analysis and interpretation of biological data.
Integrates diverse and heterogeneous datasets, to facilitate mining statistical analysis and visualizations leading to a better understanding of disease mechanisms, and the correlation between phenotype and genotype in different research projects.
Instructs others in the selection and use of bioinformatics tools.
Develops new software applications or the customization of existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
Identifies suitable datasets and methods to answer particular research questions.
Designs and performs formal evaluation of informatics methods and products.
Conducts validation and user acceptance testing, as applicable, and continuous code review for quality assurance.
Stays up to date on new advances and developments in bioinformatics.
Develops training, tools, and process documentation.
Guides other researchers to solve problems, including recommending new technologies or alternative computational strategies.
Lead bioinformatics projects to ensure implementation in a timely and efficient manner with compliant, appropriate documentation.
Provides expertise to biomedical informatics related concepts, applications, and tools.
Guides other researchers to solve problems, including recommending new technologies or alternative computational strategies.
Mentors graduate students as needed.
Leads implementation or modification of existing web-based bioinformatics tools.
Recommends process improvements for creating data algorithms and specialized computer software to identify and classify components of a biological system (i.e. DNA and protein sequences).
Provides expertise to biomedical informatics related concepts, applications, and tools.
Improves development of training, tools, and process documentation.
Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Graduate degree in Bioinformatics, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, or a related field.
PhD strongly preferred.
Experience:
Experience in the field of bioinformatics.
Experience with single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data involving human clinical samples or mouse experimental data.
Familiarity with Bioinformatics of Next Generation sequencing technologies.
Experience using modern database and data analytics technologies, such as Postgres, MySQL, NoSQL, Spark, etc.
Experience using modern workflow languages such as CWL, WDL, ARGO, Nextflow, etc.
Experience using cloud computing platforms such as AWS, GCP, Openstack, etc.
Experience with professional workflow development best practices for the full workflow development life cycle, including code versioning, containerization, workflow language, testing and quality controls.
Experience providing bioinformatics services or other service roles.
Experience with human genomics.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
Programming languages such as Python, R, Golang, Java.
Data analysis at scale.
Familiarity with Linux and/or Unix.
Preferred Competencies
Basic knowledge of molecular biology.
Ability to train others.
Advanced knowledge of high-throughput genomic technologies.
Advanced knowledge of at least one of the workflow languages.
Ability to lead the dev team to plan, execute and deliver to meet critical project milestones and deadlines.
Ability and willingness to acquire new programming languages, statistical and computational methods, and conduct scientific research.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Foster spirit of collaboration across service areas.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Working Conditions
Office/Hybrid.
Application Documents
Resume (required)
Cover Letter (preferred)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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