Bioinformaticist - Research Scientist

University of Colorado; South Dakota; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Mentorship for junior staff

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz Ophthalmology seeks a Lead Bioinformatician to provide scientific and technical analysis for a translational biorepository. You will lead reproducible analytical workflows across high-dimensional datasets, focusing on multi-omic data (PhIP-Seq, CYTOF, proteomics, clinical, and WGS).

The role shapes data strategy, builds infrastructure, and supports growth, with collaboration across investigators and analysts.

Qualifications

• Lead multi-omics data analysis and interpretation.
• Develop reproducible analytical workflows for complex datasets.
• Collaborate with investigators to define research questions and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and integration of PhIP-Seq, CYTOF, affinity-based and mass-spectrometry proteomics, clinical data, and externally analyzed WGS results.
• Develop analysis plans addressing biomarkers of disease subtype, prognosis, and treatment response.
• Apply methods including CCA, MOFA, WGCNA, and pseudobulk analysis; lead single-cell RNA seq and spatial transcriptomics projects.
• Perform raw-data processing, quality control, normalization, statistics, interpretation, and visualization.
• Prepare publication-quality figures and contribute to manuscripts and grant applications.
• Provide mentorship to one to three junior analysts or trainees.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Multi-omics analysis

R

Python

HPC

Cloud computing

Tools

R

Python

WGCNA

MOFA

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Ophthalmology

Job Title: Research Scientist

Position #00853944 - Requisition #41554

Job Summary:

This Lead Bioinformatician will provide scientific and technical analysis for a growing translational biorepository focused on identifying biomarkers of disease subtype and treatment response. The position will lead the development and implementation of reproducible analytical workflows integrating high-dimensional immunologic, proteomic, genomic, and clinical datasets. Initial work will be heavily focused on the biorepository's multi-omic data, including PhIP-Seq, high-dimensional cytometry, plasma proteomics, clinical phenotypes, and integration with whole-genome sequencing results generated by collaborating analysts. This role will help shape the analytical scope and long-term data strategy of the biorepository, establish reusable data and computational infrastructure, and support its continued growth in size and scientific scope. The position will also support additional collaborative projects involving single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and other emerging multi-omic technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with clinical investigators, laboratory scientists, statisticians, geneticists, and other computational collaborators to define research questions, develop analysis plans, interpret biological findings, and communicate results. The position will provide technical leadership, code review, training, and mentorship to approximately one to three analysts or trainees.

Key Responsibilities:

Multi-Omic Research and Analysis 65%:

• Lead analysis and integration of PhIP-Seq, CYTOF, affinity-based and mass-spectrometry proteomics, clinical data, and externally analyzed WGS results.
• Develop analysis plans addressing biomarkers of disease subtype, prognosis, and treatment response.
• Apply and evaluate multi-omic methods including CCA, MOFA and related latent-factor models, WGCNA, pseudobulk analysis, cell-state and cell-cell communication analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Lead secondary projects involving single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.
• Perform raw-data processing, quality assessment, normalization, statistical analysis, biological interpretation, and visualization.
• Work with investigators to refine research questions, assess feasibility, select appropriate methods, estimate timelines, and communicate analytical limitations.
• Prepare publication-quality figures and contribute to manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and grant applications.
• Serve as a coauthor on collaborative work, with opportunities to lead analytically focused manuscripts.

Data Infrastructure, Reproducibility, and Governance 25%:

• Design a reusable analytical and data infrastructure that supports continued expansion of the biorepository.
• Develop, validate, document, and maintain reproducible computational pipelines using workflow-management systems.
• Work in high-performance computing and cloud-computing environments.
• Develop and maintain data dictionaries, metadata standards, sample identifiers, provenance records, analysis documentation, and quality-control procedures.
• Harmonize clinical, laboratory, and multi-omic datasets across projects and collection periods.
• Establish standards for code quality, versioning, documentation, archiving, and reproducible reporting.

Technical Leadership, Mentoring, and Collaboration 10%:

• Provide technical guidance, code review, training, and mentorship to one to three junior analysts, trainees, or research staff.
• Teach best practices in bioinformatics, statistical analysis, reproducible research, data management, and scientific visualization.
• Promote consistent analytical standards across projects.
• Participate in project meetings and communicate findings to both computational and non-computational collaborators.
• Help prioritize analytical requests and support effective management of multiple concurrent projects.

Approximately 90% of the roles's initial work will support the biorepository, with the portfolio expected to broaden over the first two to three years.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

Our department's home to the Sue Anschutz Rodgers Eye Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus. This state-of-the-art facility is one of the largest eye centers in the country and serves not only patients in the Rocky Mountain region but also patients all over the world. The technological innovations conceived and developed by Departmental faculty have changed the practice of eye care throughout the world. Our educational programs train the next generation of leaders in ophthalmology. Our specialists have developed national and international reputations for excellence in routine and complex ophthalmic care. We have invested heavily in tracking our clinical outcomes and we are proud that our clinician