Computer Analyst - Sankaran Lab

hhmi; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children's Hospital is seeking a Computer Analyst to join the Sankaran lab in Boston, MA. You will build reproducible computational pipelines, generate research outputs, and troubleshoot workflow issues under the guidance of the computational lead and PI.

The role emphasizes ownership of modular projects, learning new tools, collaboration across diverse research projects, and clear communication of findings to the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer-related field and related work experience.
• Proficiency in Python, R, Bash; strong Linux/Unix skills.
• Experience with HPC/Cloud workflows, Git, and reproducible research.

Responsibilities

• Execute and monitor computational workflows (HPC/Cloud) using established tools.
• Generate research outputs (tables, figures, statistics) and report progress.
• Troubleshoot routine issues and document workflows and results.
• Develop and improve computational pipelines and automation scripts.
• Collaborate with lab members and PI to plan and review analyses.

Skills

Python

R

Bash

Linux/Unix

Git

Data visualization

Statistics

Reproducible research

Nextflow

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field

Tools

Nextflow

Job description

Primary Work Address: 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115

We have an outstanding opportunity for a Computer Analyst to join the Sankaran lab at Boston Children's Hospital. The Sankaran Laboratory uses human genetics to study hematopoiesis and how this process goes awry in human disease. We are particularly interested in gaining molecular insights into how hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can effectively produce mature blood and immune cells. We integrate modern human genetic studies with functional studies, employing a variety of innovative genomic technologies and more traditional hematopoietic assays. Additionally, we develop genomic tools, including cellular barcoding approaches and single-cell technologies, to enable higher-resolution studies of human hematopoietis in health and disease. More information about the lab and their work can be found by visiting: https://www.bloodgenes.org/

About the role:

Join our lab to help drive forward our quantitative and computational research. In this role, you'll work closely with our computational lead and fellow scientists, playing a key part in expanding the lab's capacity and speed in tackling computational challenges.

We're looking for someone who thrives on taking ownership of well-defined, modular projects, someone who writes clean, well-documented, reproducible code and brings a critical eye to interpreting results within their research context. As you grow in the role, you'll gain increasing independence, while knowing when to loop in the computational lead or PI on trickier problems.

This position is a great fit if you enjoy:

• Building reproducible computational pipelines
• Picking up new tools and technologies with curiosity
• Collaborating across a variety of research projects

What we provide:

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic, diverse, and highly collaborative research team seeking to define how blood diseases arise and how better treatments can be developed.
• Access to several vibrant research communities in the Boston area, including at Boston Children's Hospital, the broader Longwood medical area centered around Harvard Medical School, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
• Close interactions with colleagues and collaborators in human genetics and computational biology.
• A competitive compensation package with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.

What you'll do:

• Execute and monitor computational workflows (HPC/Cloud) using established tools and pipelines under the guidance of the computational lead.
• Generate research outputs (tables, figures, summary statistics) and communicate progress, findings, and issues to the team in a timely manner.
• Assist lab members with troubleshooting and routine tasks. Perform quality checks, troubleshoot routine computational errors, and escalation non-routine problems to the computational lead with relevant logs, diagnostics and observations.
• Develop, document, and improve computational workflows, automation scripts and reproducible research practices.
• Depending on experience and interests, the position may provide opportunities to develop increasingly independent computational analyses and contribute to research publications.
• The candidate should be comfortable asking questions when requirements are unclear, documenting their work, and communicating unexpected results rather than simply producing an output without verification.
• You will meet regularly with the computational lead, as well as the lab PI (at least biweekly) to review ongoing work and strategize.

What you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in computer-related field; or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
• Demonstrated programming or scripting experience in Python, R, and/or Bash.
• Experience with Linux/Unix environments, command-line tools, and collaborating through Git version control.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify inconsistencies or unexpected results in computational analyses.
• Ability to learn unfamiliar computational tools and workflows independently.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and prioritize tasks in consultation with the computational lead, communicate progress, and met agreed-upon deadlines.
• Experience working with large datasets or computational workloads on HPC or cloud platforms.
• Experience with workflow-management systems such as Nextflow.
• Experience with data visualization and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with reproducible computational research practices.

Physical Requirements

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move based on workspace. The position require