Genomic Data Curator

Harvard University; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard University’s Harvard Medical School seeks a Genomic Data Curator to join the SMaHT Data Analysis Center. The role focuses on harmonizing datasets, enriching metadata, and building reproducible data wrangling pipelines for high-throughput sequencing data.

The candidate will collaborate with the Park Lab and software engineers to ensure validated datasets are available on the SMaHT Data Portal, contributing to understanding mutational processes across tissues.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience.
• 1–3 years of hands-on experience in bioinformatics or a related field.
• Proficiency in Python for data manipulation and scripting.
• Proficiency in coding.
• Strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Data Harmonization: Clean, transform, and map diverse genomic and clinical datasets into unified standard formats.
• Metadata Enrichment: Author and apply standard biological ontologies and rigorous metadata labels to dataset submissions.
• Pipeline Management: Build and maintain reproducible data wrangling pipelines to handle high-throughput sequencing data.
• Quality Control: Design and execute data validation checks to identify anomalies and protect data integrity.
• Portal Integration: Collaborate with software engineers to push validated datasets to the public SMaHT Data Portal.

Skills

Python

Coding

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Science, or a related field

Tools

Scripting

Job description

Overview

Harvard University offers a vibrant community focused on advancing its mission through innovation, collaboration, and skill-building. Harvard Medical School seeks to foster a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. The Harvard Medical School Department of Biomedical Informatics seeks a skilled Genomic Data Curator to join the Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Data Analysis Center. The Park Lab is a bioinformatics research group in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School. Our aim is to understand the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that underlie disease processes through computational and statistical analysis of genomic data, with a focus on mutational processes in normal and cancer cells and their impact on gene regulation. The successful candidate will manage, harmonize, and standardize datasets mapping genetic variations across human tissues.

Responsibilities

• Data Harmonization: Clean, transform, and map diverse genomic and clinical datasets into unified standard formats.
• Metadata Enrichment: Author and apply standard biological ontologies and rigorous metadata labels to dataset submissions.
• Pipeline Management: Build and maintain reproducible data wrangling pipelines to handle high-throughput sequencing data.
• Quality Control: Design and execute data validation checks to identify anomalies and protect data integrity.
• Portal Integration: Collaborate with software engineers to push validated datasets to the public SMaHT Data Portal.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Science, or a related field — strongly preferred.
• 1–3 years of hands-on experience in bioinformatics or a related field.
• Proficiency in Python for data manipulation and scripting.
• Proficiency in coding.
• Strong attention to detail.

Term, Hours, and Visa

• Term: This is a one-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position.
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Pre-Employment and Application Status

• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, you can track your status through the Careers@Harvard portal.

Salary and Benefits

This position has been designated with a salary grade level. Salary ranges are available to view, and full benefits are provided.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, wellbeing, and financial security, including:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes. Harvard maintains an equal employment opportunity policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our policies help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.