Computer Analyst– Sankaran Lab

Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health benefits

Collaborative team

Job summary

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Boston seeks a computational researcher to advance quantitative analyses and develop scalable code pipelines. You will collaborate with the computational lead and lab scientists to expand capacity and speed in tackling challenges.

You will own modular projects, write clean, documented code, and communicate findings. The role offers opportunities to grow independence while consulting the lead or PI on complex problems and contribute to publications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in Python, R, and Bash.
• Experience with Linux/Unix, CLI tools, and Git.
• Strong detail orientation and error detection in analyses.
• Ability to learn new tools independently.
• Experience with large datasets or HPC/cloud is a plus.
• Familiarity with data visualization and statistics.
• Experience with reproducible computational workflows is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Execute and monitor computational workflows (HPC/Cloud) under guidance.
• Generate tables, figures, and stats; communicate progress clearly.
• Troubleshoot routine computational tasks; escalate complex issues.
• Develop and improve reproducible workflows and automation scripts.
• Collaborate across projects and meet deadlines with the team.
• Engage with PI and computational lead biweekly to review work.

Skills

Python

R

Bash

Git

Linux/Unix

Data visualization

Reproducible research

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer-related field

Tools

Nextflow

Git

Linux

Job description

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

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 elevate 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 meet agreed-upon deadlines.
• Experience working with large datasets or computational workloads on HPC or cloud platforms is a plus.
• Experience with workflow-management systems such as Nextflow is a plus.
• Experience with data visualization and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with reproducible computational research practices is a plus.

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 about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word "may," the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are "essential functions" of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hiring Pay Range

$65,600.00 - $82,000.00

Pay Type:

Annual

The posted range reflects HHMI's good faith estimate of the anticipated hiring salary range for this role at the time of posting. Actual hiring compensation is determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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