Bioinformatician, Viral Genomics & Diagnostics

Primary Diagnostics, Inc; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 117,000 - 138,000; Part time

Job summary

Primary.Health is seeking an experienced On-Demand Bioinformatician – Viral Genomics to analyze viral sequence data, track emerging variants, and advise on how genomic changes may affect diagnostic tests. This is a remote, contract-based role with a 10-hour weekly retainer.

You will run reproducible analyses, stay current with surveillance data from CDC/WHO/GISAID, and communicate results to non-technical stakeholders. A part-time schedule suits flexibility and outbreak-driven workloads.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years of hands-on viral or pathogen genomics experience.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R and standard genomics tools (e.g., Nextclade, Pangolin, Nextstrain).
• Experience evaluating molecular diagnostics against sequence variation preferred.
• Strong written communication; comfortable working independently on a part-time schedule.

Responsibilities

• Analyze viral genomes (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV) to identify mutations, lineages, and variants of concern.
• Assess the impact of sequence changes on assay performance (primer/probe binding, sensitivity).
• Run and maintain reproducible pipelines for alignment, variant calling, and lineage assignment.
• Summarize findings clearly for non-technical stakeholders.
• Monitor CDC, WHO, and GISAID surveillance and flag relevant developments.

Skills

Python

R

Strong written communication

Independent work

Education

Advanced degree in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology or related field

Tools

Nextclade

Pangolin

Nextstrain

Job description

About Primary

Primary.Health is committed to protecting the health of every community through easy and affordable access to diagnostics. We provide program management software and program design services that let employers, schools and communities administer testing to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

JOB SCOPE

We are seeking an experienced bioinformatician on a part-time retainer to analyze viral sequence data, track emerging variants, and advise on how genomic changes may affect our diagnostic tests. Scheduling is flexible, with faster turnaround occasionally needed during outbreaks or new variant emergence.

MAJOR JOB DUTIES

• Analyze viral genomes (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV) to identify mutations, lineages, and variants of concern.
• Assess the impact of sequence changes on assay performance (primer/probe binding, sensitivity).
• Run and maintain reproducible pipelines for alignment, variant calling, and lineage assignment.
• Summarize findings clearly for non-technical stakeholders.
• Monitor CDC, WHO, and GISAID surveillance and flag relevant developments.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years of hands-on viral or pathogen genomics experience.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R and standard genomics tools (e.g., Nextclade, Pangolin, Nextstrain).
• Experience evaluating molecular diagnostics against sequence variation preferred.
• Strong written communication; comfortable working independently on a part-time schedule.

Compensation

This role will be paid at $85.00–$100.00/hour on a 10-hour weekly retainer, with additional hours billed at the agreed hourly rate. Primary.Health provides an estimate of compensation as required by state regulations. Compensation may vary based on location, skills, qualifications, and experience, and is subject to change as new market data becomes available. Primary.Health reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

JOB TITLE: On-Demand Bioinformatician – Viral Genomics
JOB TYPE: Contract (1099) | 10 hours/week retainer
LOCATION: Remote
REPORTING TO: Head of Strategic Initiatives

Primary embraces diversity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.