Computational Biologist

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks a Computational Biologist to develop and apply statistical and computational tools to large-scale genomic data. The role integrates GWAS with metabolomics and builds polygenic risk scores across populations and model systems to study addiction traits, COPD, and type 2 diabetes.

You will analyze RNA-seq, WGS, and single-cell data; collaborate with clinicians and scientists; contribute to publications; and mentor students in the lab.

Qualifications

• Education: degree in a related field is required.
• Advanced degree in computational biology or quantitative discipline is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large-scale genomic datasets including RNA-seq, WGS, and single-cell data.
• Develop and apply statistical and computational methods to extract biological insights.
• Develop and train deep learning models for genomics analyses.
• Collaborate with disease and genomics experts to address biomedical questions.
• Publish findings and present at lab and consortium meetings.
• Mentor students in the lab.
• Manage research projects and related duties with moderate direction.
• Perform laboratory tasks and analyze experimental results.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Programming skills

Computational biology

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's or PhD in computational biology or quantitative field

Tools

R

Python

GitHub

Snakemake

Nextflow

Job description

About the Department

The Section of Genetic Medicine shape the future of personalized medicine with successful research programs focused on the quantitative genetic and genomic science. The Section provides extremely valuable collaborations with investigators in the Department of Medicine who are seeking to develop new and more powerful ways to identify genetic risk factors for common, complex disorders with almost immediate clinical application. The Section of Genetic Medicine conducts impactful investigations focused on quantitative genetics, systems biology and genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology as well as through extensive collaborations of the faculty throughout the Department of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division and the University of Chicago.

Job Summary

We are seeking a lifelong learner interested in developing statistical and computational tools to sift through large amounts of data to make discoveries that can improve human health. 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.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments. Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: 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: Experience with deep learning in genomics and large language models.
• Experience: 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.
• Analytical, statistical, quantitative, and computational/programming skills.

Pay Range

Pay Range$60,000.00 - $80,000.00

Benefits

Benefits EligibleYesThe 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, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes 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. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt