Bioinformatician

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

Rutgers University–New Brunswick seeks a part-time Bioinformatician in Biochemistry & Microbiology to characterize microbial communities across diverse sample types: insects, plants, soil, and water, building pipelines for 16S/ITS/18S and shotgun data.

Under Dr. Jennifer Sun, you will establish reproducible workflows, train students, and contribute to grant-funded projects. This on-site role is 19.5 hours/week, $30/hour, FLSA nonexempt, with a focus on mentorship and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Fluency in R and/or Python for analysis and visualization.
• Ability to work independently and mentor others.

Responsibilities

• Builds and maintains microbiome analysis pipelines from raw reads to taxonomic and functional profiling.
• Establishes reproducible, well-documented workflows.
• Trains students and staff in bioinformatics methods.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

R

Python

Team collaboration

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, microbiology, or related field

Tools

QIIME2

DADA2

Kraken2

MetaPhlAn

metaSPAdes

anvi'o

Snakemake

Nextflow

Job description

Position Details

Recruitment/Posting Title: Bioinformatician

Posting Number: 26TM0343

Department: Biochemistry & Microbiology

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses.

For two consecutive years, Rutgers is ranked on Forbes' list of America's Best Large Employers. Rutgers holds #64 of 500 employers and is the #1 New Jersey employer on the publication's 2023 list. Rutgers' commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation's military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a temporary part-time Bioinformatician for the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. Under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Sun, the Bioinformatician will characterize microbial communities across diverse sample types: insects, plants, soil, and water.

• Builds and maintains microbiome analysis pipeline, from raw reads through taxonomic and functional profiling, using amplicon (16S / ITS / 18S) and shotgun metagenomic data.


• Establishes reproducible, well-documented workflows.


• Trains students and staff.


• Other duties as assigned.

FLSA: Nonexempt

Salary Details: $30.00 per hour

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage


• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs


• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options


• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)


• Life insurance coverage


• Employee discount programs

Position Status: Part Time

Working Hours: 19.5 hours per week

Daily Work Shift: Day

Work Arrangement: This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.

Payroll Designation: PeopleSoft

Terms of Appointment: Temporary Staff Appointment - Hourly

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, microbiology, or a related scientific/technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and/or relevant laboratory technician or research study experience carrying out research protocols and tests, or other technical work may be substituted for the degree.

Certifications/Licenses:

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fluency in R and/or Python for downstream analysis and visualization (e.g., phyloseq, vegan, DESeq2).


• Ability to work independently and drive projects forward, while collaborating closely with a team of experimental biologists.


• A genuine interest in mentorship.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience building microbiome pipelines (e.g., QIIME2 / DADA2, Kraken2 / MetaPhlAn, metaSPAdes / anvi'o) and a workflow manager such as Snakemake or Nextflow.

Equipment Utilized:

Physical Demands and Work Environment: This is a grant funded position, continuation of employment in this position is contingent upon adequate grant funds.

Special Conditions:

Posting Details

Posting Open Date: 09/25/2026

Posting Close Date: 10/25/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Regional Campus: Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Home Location Campus: Cook (RU-New Brunswick)

City: New Brunswick

State: NJ

Location Details:

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement