Computational Biologist

Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Retirement programs

Job summary

The Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago is seeking a Computational Biologist to work on NIH-funded projects, focusing on integrating large-scale genomic data with metabolomics to uncover mechanisms of complex diseases.

The ideal candidate will have a Master's or doctoral degree and expertise in deep learning, statistical methods, and programming within genomics. You will play a crucial role in data analysis and collaborative research efforts.

Qualifications

• College or university degree in a related field.
• Advanced analytical, statistical, quantitative and computational/programming skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large-scale genomic datasets including RNA-seq, whole genome sequence, and single-cell data.
• Develop and apply statistical and computational methods to extract biological insights.
• Collaborate with disease and genomics experts to address biomedical research questions.

Skills

Deep learning in genomics

Data analysis

R and/or Python proficiency

Statistical methods

Problem-solving

Education

Master’s or doctoral degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, physics or other quantitative disciplines

Tools

GitHub

Snakemake

Nextflow

Job description

BSD MED - Genetic Medicine – Im Research Staff

Job Summary

The Computational Biologist will contribute to the development and application of statistical and computational tools across NIH-funded projects, integrating large-scale GWAS with metabolomics data to uncover mechanisms underlying complex diseases and developing polygenic risk scores that transfer genetic signals across human populations and model organisms to study addiction-related traits, COPD, type 2 diabetes, and other common diseases.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large-scale genomic datasets including RNA-seq, whole genome sequence, and single-cell data.
• Develop and apply statistical and computational methods to extract biological insights from high-dimensional data.
• Develop and train deep learning models to improve upon traditional statistical methods in genomics.
• Collaborate with disease and genomics experts to address pressing biomedical research questions.
• Write and contribute to scientific publications and present findings at lab and consortium meetings.
• Help train and mentor students in the lab.
• Apply research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge to administer a research project, managing lab and research-related duties with moderate direction.
• Take responsibility for laboratory duties such as recognizing abnormal results, adjusting procedures to correct problems, and setting up and performing experiments.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• College or university degree in a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, physics, or other quantitative disciplines with an interest in applying skills to biomedical research.
• Experience with deep learning in genomics and large language models.
• Experience with large datasets, distributed computing, and databases.
• Reproducible research tools and workflows (GitHub, Snakemake, Nextflow).
• Proficiency in R and/or Python.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong analytical skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to explore and adopt new ideas and technologies.
• Advanced analytical, statistical, quantitative, and computational/programming skills.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Benefits Eligible

Yes. 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 equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 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. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.