Postdoctoral Fellow - Phillippy Lab

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 63,480 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards package including health and retirement benefits

Opportunity for research collaboration

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. presents an opening for a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University. This position, based in the Department of Computer Science, requires a PhD and expertise in algorithm design and bioinformatics.

Strong candidates will develop methods for genome analysis and collaborate with various departments. This is a full-time on-site role with a salary range of $63,480 - $80,000, depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Strong publication record in relevant peer-reviewed venues.
• Technical background in bioinformatics or genomics.
• Experience leading independent research projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational methods for genome assembly and analysis.
• Apply algorithms to population-scale sequencing.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Algorithm and data structure design

Programming in C++ or Rust

Experience with genomic software tools

Education

PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field

Tools

Python

Minimap2

Samtools

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first researchuniversity and home to nine world- class academic divisions workingtogether as one university.

Salary

$63,480 - $80,000

Johns Hopkins University: Whiting School of Engineering

Description

Dr. Adam Phillippy is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join his research group at Johns Hopkins University beginning in2026 or early 2027. The position will be based in the Department ofComputer Science in the Whiting School of Engineering, with opportunities to engage with the broader Johns Hopkins researchecosystem, including the departments of Biomedical Engineering andGenetic Medicine.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop and apply computationalmethods across the problems of genome assembly, comparativegenomics, gene annotation, pangenomics, personalized genomes, and rare disease clinical diagnostics, with the specific focus shapedby the candidate's interests. Much of this work leverages recentlydeveloped reference pangenome databases, and their correspondingdata structures, that efficiently capture the genetic variation ofa species. These methods can be applied to population-scalesequencing and to the genotyping of complex structural variation. While the approaches generalize to any species, they have directapplications to human health, including the identification of such variation in the genomes of rare disease patients. This workrequires expertise in algorithm design (especially on strings andgraphs), software engineering, bioinformatics, and efficientprogramming languages. The ideal candidate will be interested indeveloping novel, scalable algorithms and data structures for largegenomic datasets and in translating them into real-world impact. Applicants with strong computer science, algorithmic, or softwareengineering backgrounds are encouraged to apply, even if theirprior work has not specifically focused on genomics orbioinformatics.

This is a full-time, on-site postdoctoral position with an initialappointment of 12 months and the possibility of extension based onperformance and funding. Strong candidates need not meet every qualification listed below.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technicalfield
• Strong publication record in relevant peer-reviewed venues and evidence of impact as measured by citations to the candidate's ownwork
• Strong technical background in one or more of the following:
  • Bioinformatics
  • Genome assembly, alignment, annotation, and variantcalling
  • Algorithm and data structure design, especially on strings andgraphs
• Interest or experience in working on topics related to datacompression, machine learning, high-performance computing, andscalable data structures
• Proficiency in a performant programming language such as C++ orRust, a scripting language such as Python, and a shell / commandline work environment
• Experience with tools such as common sequence aligners, assemblers, and pangenome software (e.g., minimap2, samtools, Verkko, vg, etc.)
• Ability to lead research projects independently, from problemformulation through analysis, implementation, and publication
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Interest in working in a collaborative and interdisciplinaryenvironment

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and contact information for at least writers of letters of reference. Please also indicate your earliest possible start date.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The University is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

Additional Vaccine Requirements May Apply, Depending on Your Campus

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.