Associate Scientist / Scientist I, Computational Test Development

Precede Biosciences; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Precede Biosciences seeks an Associate Scientist / Scientist I to join our Computational Test Development team in Boston. This hands‑on computational role supports diagnostic assay characterization and validation, reporting to the Senior Director, Computational Test Development.

You will run analyses, build QA frameworks, and contribute to regulatory submissions. Collaborate with wet lab scientists, document methods clearly, and drive reproducible analyses in a fast‑paced startup environment

Qualifications

• MSc in computational biology, biostatistics, or a closely related quantitative field; PhD preferred.
• 3–4 years of industry or post‑graduate research experience in a data‑intensive biological or biomedical setting.
• Strong proficiency in R and Python for data analysis, visualization, and reproducible reporting.
• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS) for running scalable analyses.

Responsibilities

• Execute data analyses supporting assay characterization across multiple epigenomic and NGS‑based diagnostic tests—from raw data processing through performance metric generation.
• Design and implement quality assessment frameworks to evaluate assay and pipeline performance, including QC metrics and threshold setting.
• Run and interpret validation experiments in coordination with wet lab and senior computational team members, contributing to study execution against predefined protocols.
• Pursue defined research questions semi‑independently, designing the analytical approach, executing, and returning well‑documented results.

Skills

R

Python

AWS

NGS data familiarity

Communication

Education

MSc in computational biology/biostatistics

PhD preferred

Tools

AWS

Job description

The Opportunity

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Scientist / Scientist I to join our Computational Test Development team at Precede Biosciences. Reporting to our Senior Director, Computational Test Development, this role is focused on the execution and analysis that underpins our diagnostic assay characterization and validation programs.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Scientist / Scientist I to join our Computational Test Development team at Precede Biosciences. Reporting to our Senior Director, Computational Test Development, this role is focused on the execution and analysis that underpins our diagnostic assay characterization and validation programs. This is a hands‑on computational role. You will run analyses, build and maintain quality assessment frameworks, execute in silico simulations, and generate the data‑driven outputs that feed directly into our regulatory submissions. If you are energized by rigorous data analysis, take pride in clean and reproducible work, and are excited to contribute to diagnostics that could change how cancer is detected and treated, we want to hear from you.

About Us

We are pioneering an advanced, minimally invasive, comprehensive epigenomics platform with the potential to profoundly impact the research and development of new medicines and the use of approved medicines in clinical practice across a number of conditions, including cancer. More information on our company and platform can be found on our company website and in our seminal publication in Nature Medicine.

We care deeply about creating a place where folks can do their best work from the start and have intentionally created an environment that is defined by purpose, teamwork, and excellence. This means nurturing team spirit, facing challenges together, and collaboratively solving complex problems, while also ensuring a strong focus on individual initiative, accountability, and delivery.

What You’ll Do

Assay Characterization & Validation

• Execute data analyses supporting assay characterization across multiple epigenomic and NGS‑based diagnostic tests — from raw data processing through performance metric generation
• Design and implement quality assessment frameworks to evaluate assay and pipeline performance, including QC metric definition, threshold setting, and failure mode identification
• Run and interpret validation experiments in close coordination with wet lab and senior computational team members, contributing to study execution against pre‑defined protocols
• Pursue defined research questions semi‑independently — taking a scoped problem, designing the analytical approach, executing, and returning well‑documented results

In Silico Simulation & Thresholding

• Design and run in silico simulations to model assay behavior under variable conditions — including signal dropout, coverage non‑uniformity, and input DNA variability
• Develop and apply statistical approaches to threshold setting and performance boundary definition, supporting limit of detection and analytical range characterization
• Systematically explore parameter sensitivity across bioinformatics pipelines to assess model robustness and inform feature selection

Regulatory Support & Communication

• Produce clear, thorough documentation of all analyses code, methods, results, and interpretation to the standard required under design controls
• Contribute to the authoring of SOPs and analytical summary reports
• Partner closely with wet lab scientists to ensure computational analyses are grounded in experimental reality and that results are communicated in accessible, actionable terms
• Present analytical findings clearly in team meetings and cross‑functional settings
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing code and knowledge openly and proactively

Who You Are

• MSc in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, or a closely related quantitative field with 3–4 years of industry or post‑graduate research experience in a data‑intensive biological or biomedical setting, Ph.D. preferred
• Strong proficiency in R and Python for data analysis, visualization, and reproducible reporting — you write, own, and document your own code
• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS) for running scalable analyses
• Demonstrated ability to execute analytical plans with precision and efficiency, managing multiple tasks without a drop in quality or documentation standards
• Familiarity with NGS data types and standard processing pipelines — alignment, QC, coverage analysis, or equivalent
• Clear and organized communicator — written documentation, results presentations, and cross‑functional interactions alike
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced startup environment, following defined protocols while contributing ideas for improvement

Nice To Have

• Exposure to regulated environments — CLIA, CAP, FDA IVD, or design controls in any form
• Experience with epigenomic data types — methylation, cfDNA, chromatin accessibility, or ChIP‑seq
• Familiarity with statistical thresholding or limit of detection frameworks for diagnostic applications
• Experience contributing to SOPs, validation reports, or other regulated documentation

$110,000 - $150,000 a year

Associate Scientist: $110,000 - $130,000

Scientist I: $125,000 - $145,000

Final compensation will be based on a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and geographic location. Employees are also eligible for performance bonuses, equity participation and comprehensive health benefits.

We believe in building an inclusive and balanced team. We also know meeting every single‑exact‑criteria can get in the way of meeting stellar folks.

Precede Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected.

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies and external recruiters. No fees will be paid for such submissions.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.