Postdoctoral Fellows - Computational Biology & Machine Learning

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 52,800 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision coverage

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology & Machine Learning to initiate and execute research with a team of investigators at CPDR/MCCRP.

The role focuses on single-cell/spatial omics, epigenomics, or liquid biopsy fragmentomics, creating AI/ML tools and scalable pipelines. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in a related field, 0–5 years postdoc experience, and strong programming skills (Python/R/C++), with

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Quantitative Genomics, Biomedical Engineering, ML, CS (computational biology focus) or closely related field is required.
• 0–5 years of postdoctoral experience encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovative research and conceive/execute computational projects; develop novel algorithms for large multi-omics datasets.
• Build AI/ML tools and publish/translate models for clinical insights.
• Engineer scalable pipelines for multi-modal biomedical data processing.
• Drive scientific communication through manuscripts, grants, and conference talks.
• Collaborate across disciplines in a diverse, interdisciplinary team.

Skills

Python

R

C/C++

NumPy

SciPy

Pandas

Bioconductor

Snakemake

Nextflow

Single-cell omics

Cloud HPC

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology

Tools

Nextflow

Google Cloud

AWS

HPC clusters

Job description

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow - Computational Biology & Machine Learning who will be responsible for initiating and carrying out research projects in collaboration with a research team consisting of scientific and clinical investigators. Candidates should have a strong working knowledge of computational biology and machine learning preferably in the area of single-cell and spatial omics, epigenomics, or liquid biopsy fragmentomics.

This position will be in support of Dr. Raunak Shrestha’s laboratory at the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) at the Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP). The Shrestha Lab is a computational cancer genomics and data science research group that focuses on elucidating the drivers of cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. We aim to advance personalized medicine and improve clinical outcomes for prostate cancer patients by understanding the complex interplay of the multi-omics information.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead Innovative research. Conceive and execute computational research projects, develop novel algorithms and analytical frameworks to interrogate large-scale, multidimensional omics datasets, and translate findings into clinically meaningful insights. Motivation to lead research projects under Principal Investigator’s supervision.
• Build Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) tools. Design, implement, document, and publicly release AI/ML models - including deep learning approaches - for integrative analysis of cancer genomic data, contributing resources that advance the broader scientific community.
• Engineer scalable pipelines. Develop and maintain robust, reproducible computational pipelines for processing, integrating, and managing complex biomedical datasets across multiple data modalities.
• Drive scientific communication. Lead and contribute to the preparation of high-impact scientific manuscripts, grant and fellowship applications, and conference presentations; represent the lab at national and international scientific meetings.
• Collaborate across disciplines. Actively contribute to team meetings and foster a culture of scientific excellence within a diverse, interdisciplinary research environment.

Education and Experience

• A PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Quantitative Genomics, Biomedical Engineering, Machine Learning, Computer Science (with a computational biology focus), or a closely related field is required.
• Candidates at all stages of their postdoctoral career (0–5 years of postdoctoral experience) are encouraged to apply.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong foundation in statistical and computational modeling and data analysis applied to genomics questions is required.
• Experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) (deep learning) methods applied to cancer genomics is considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience developing or applying computational or statistical pipelines to molecular, biological, clinical, or multi-omics data.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and/or C/C++, with hands‑on experience using scientific computing libraries (e.g., pandas, NumPy, SciPy, scikit-learn, Bioconductor).
• Demonstrated experience building or applying computational/statistical pipelines to molecular, clinical, or multi-omics datasets.
• Proficiency with reproducible workflow management systems such as Snakemake, Nextflow, or equivalent pipeline frameworks.
• Familiarity with cloud or high‑performance computing (HPC) environments, such as Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, SLURM/SGE‑based clusters, or equivalent infrastructure.
• Experience applying AI/ML and deep learning methods to cancer genomics problems - particularly single-cell omics, spatial omics, epigenomics, or liquid biopsy fragmentomics is highly valued.
• Prior work with large‑scale biomedical datasets, including multi-omics, single‑cell, spatial, clinical genomics, or treatment‑response data is highly valued.
• A track record of peer‑reviewed publications commensurate with career stage in computational biology, bioinformatics, biomedical data science, or related fields is highly valued.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within large, interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced research environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including demonstrated scientific writing ability.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a T1/Public Trust background check.

Physical Capabilities

• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $52,800 - $78,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals With Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)