Senior Computational Biology & Multi-Omics Scientific Advisor - MUST Have PhD - Work Remotely

Convergenz; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Convergenz is seeking a senior researcher to lead efforts characterizing factors behind autism trajectories. The role requires deep expertise in human genetics, genomics, and multi-omics, with experience in study design and data integration.

Travel is required (25%), with reimbursed expenses; candidates must have a PhD and at least five years postdoctoral experience. The position focuses on human-centered analyses, not model systems, and involves coordinating with teams on data sharing and

Qualifications

• Must have PhD in human genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, epidemiology, systems biology, or a related field.
• Must have minimum 5 years of experience post doctorate.
• Experience in human genetics/genomics or other 'omics research (e.g., sequencing, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome).
• Experience budgeting and program or project management.

Responsibilities

• Provide internal subject matter expertise on factors behind different autism trajectories, including genetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, immune profiling, microbiome, environmental exposures, family factors, and developmental history.
• Assess study design, sample size, and statistical power; advise measurement choices and batch effects.
• Data handling: combining data from different sources and quality control; ensure reproducibility and proper analysis of multi-factor interactions.
• Coordinate with TA1/TA2/TA3 teams to feed federated modeling platforms and identify actionable targets.

Skills

Human genetics

Genomics

Bioinformatics

Statistical genetics

Machine learning

Data science

Omics research

Education

PhD in related field

Master’s with substantial research

Job description

There is 25% travel required for this position (travel expenses are reimbursable).

MUST have PhD in human genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, epidemiology, systems biology, or a related field

MUST have minimum 5 years of experience post doctorate

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Provide internal subject matter expertise on how to characterize the factors behind different autism trajectories.
• These include genetics and epigenetics, metabolomics, immune profiling, the microbiome, environmental exposures, family factors, and developmental history.
• The program's starting idea is that nonlinear interactions among these factors shape different developmental, health, communication, and functional outcomes
• Give insight on whether proposed approaches are conceptually and technically sound:
• Study design: cohort design, sample size, and statistical power
• Measurement: assay and measurement choices, and batch effects
• Data handling: combining data from different sources, and quality control
• Analysis: reproducibility, and statistical methods for gene-environment and other multi-factor interactions
• Scope: any justifiable way of measuring a person's biological state is in scope, including neuroimaging and electrophysiology. Characterization is focused on humans, not model systems such as organoids
• Help set goals, expectations, and budgets for TA1 projects, including milestones for generating, harmonizing, and sharing data.
• Help review and oversee funded TA1 projects, including:
• coordinating with TA2 so TA1 data and features can feed the federated, privacy-preserving modeling platforms
• coordinating with TA3 so TA1 findings point to targets that interventions can act on

Requirements:

• Experience in human genetics/genomics or other 'omics research (e.g., sequencing, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome), covering both how the data are generated and how they're analyzed
• Experience with computational methods for high-dimensional biological data: bioinformatics, statistical genetics, data science, computational modeling, and/or machine learning
• Experience working with large human cohort or long-term datasets that combine several data types
• Experience with budgeting and program or project management

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum five years of experience post-doc.
• Genetics or biology research on autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions
• Familiarity with large autism and population datasets (e.g., SPARK, Simons Simplex Collection, MSSNG, ABCD, All of Us)
• Environmental epidemiology or exposome science; immunology; metabolism; gut-brain or microbiome research
• Methods for causal inference and interactions (e.g., Mendelian randomization, gene-by-environment modeling, polygenic scores, multi-omic integration, subtyping or clustering patients by trajectory)
• Neuroimaging or EEG analysis
• Data standards, governance, and privacy for genomic data, including FAIR principles, GA4GH standards, consent, and assent for minors, and returning results to participants
• Engaging communities in genetic research, and awareness of autistic community perspectives on it
• Lived experience of autism is a plus. Disclosure is voluntary and not required.
• PhD (or MD/PhD) in human genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, epidemiology, systems biology, or a related field.
• A master’s degree with substantial relevant research experience may be considered