Environmental Molecular Bioinformatician

Abundance Network; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions invites applications for an Environmental Molecular Bioinformatician within the Sustainable Ocean Economies initiative. This on-site role is based at the Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, CA and may involve field work and lab management.

The position focuses on setting up a molecular lab, processing samples, designing data workflows, and developing databases for long-term biodiversity observations, with a two-year term and potential renewal.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• One year of experience or an equivalent combination.
• Experience in quantitative disciplines such as economics, finance, statistics, or engineering.
• Familiarity with Unix, Python, or HTML.
• Strong data analysis, database management, and bioinformatic pipeline skills.

Responsibilities

• Seawater eDNA extractions, PCR, and sequencing library preparation
• Conduct Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing
• Design and optimize sequencing data pipelines
• Analyze resulting data
• Create reproducible workflows that follow international data standards
• Develop and maintain database for long-term regional biodiversity observing

Skills

Bioinformatics

Molecular Biology

eDNA

Data analysis

R

SQL

Python

Unix

HTML

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Illumina sequencing

Oxford Nanopore sequencing

SQL database

Job description

This position is onsite and based at the Stanford Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, CA.

This is a two-year fixed term position with the possibility of renewal dependent on programmatic need and budgetary availability.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) catalyzes research innovation and action to improve the health of the oceans for the people who depend on them the most. COS capitalizes on Stanford’s broad expertise in ocean science and in the many other disciplines crucial to developing ocean solutions including engineering, computer science, political science, design, and business. Our core team of researchers and fellows partner with other research institutions, national and international non-governmental organizations, businesses and governments, as well as established and emerging leaders in the data revolution. The Center for Ocean Solutions is a part of the Woods Institute for the Environment at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Are you interested in the intersection of ocean science and policy and want to be part of building solutions for current and future ocean issues? If so, the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, part of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, invites you to apply as an Environmental Molecular Bioinformatician within our Sustainable Ocean Economies initiative.

The Environmental Molecular Bioinformatician role will be team-oriented and involve a combination of field research, molecular lab management, molecular lab workflows, sequencing, data management, data analysis, and database development. The role will initially involve setting up a molecular laboratory space and downstream sample extractions, metabarcoding, library preparations, and data workflows in collaboration with partners in California and the Republic of Palau. The role will require optimization of methods and development of computational infrastructure for data management, analysis of sequencing data, and database development for long-term storage.

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Seawater eDNA extractions, PCR, and sequencing library preparation
• Conduct Oxford Nanopore and Illumina Sequencing
• Design and optimize sequencing data pipelines
• Analyze resulting data
• Create reproducible workflows that follow international data standards
• Develop and maintain database for long-term regional biodiversity observing

In addition to the minimum qualifications listed below, our preferred qualifications include:

• Innovative & collaborative mindset
• Independently capable of running molecular lab workflows
• Fluency in sterile molecular biology methods, eDNA/eRNA processing, and downstream data management, bioinformatic pipelines, analysis, and database management
• Experience in running Illumina/Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms
• R programming language & SQL
• eDNA literacy and conducts best practices
• Ecological/multivariate statistics
• Graphic design
• Familiarity with Unix, Python, or HTML

Working Conditions:

• Occasional evening and weekend hours
• Activities include: working on vessels at sea and lifting contents greater than 40 pounds

The expected pay range for this position is $85,926 to $104,477 per annum.

Core Duties

• Identify and select usable data from subtle and complex data patterns. Assess and produce relevant, standard, or custom information (reports, charts, graphs, and tables) from structured data sources by querying data repositories and generating the associated information.
• Utilize fundamental processes and methods to validate data to ensure high quality product. Distribute reports to applicable agencies, researchers, management, and other internal end-users and provide interpretation of data when needed.
• Develop and produce dashboards, key performance indicators, and other recognized metrics used to monitor and report organizational performance. Collect and analyze metric data.
• Collect, manage, and clean datasets using an extraction and reporting programming language to ensure data integrity.
• Research and reconcile data discrepancies occurring among various information systems and reports.
• Collaborate with data managers to define and implement data standards and common data elements for data collection.
• Assist with identifying new sources of data and methods to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• May test prototype software and participate in the approval and release process for new software.

Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree.

Minimum Experience

One year of experience or a combination of education and relevant experience. Experience in a quantitative discipline such as economics, finance, statistics, or engineering.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Basic knowledge and demonstrated experience using and applying analytical software, database management system software, database reporting software, database user interface and query software, and data mining software.
• Ability to collect data using a variety of methods, such as data mining and hardcopy or electronic documentation study, to improve or expand databases.
• Strong listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple activities in a deadline-oriented environment; highly organized, flexible, and rigorous attention to detail.
• Ability to use logic to calculate data; efficiently construct a database or scrutinize the form of a question.
• Ability to work with data of varying levels of quality and validity.
• Demonstrated ability to produce data in a clear and understandable manner meeting user requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple internal and external customers.