Research Specialist, Bioinformatics - Cancer Center
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking for a highly motivated individual to join our Biospecimen Procurement and Molecular Epidemiologic Resource (BioMER) team to support ongoing research by providing support in cancer bioinformatics. As a member of this team, you will be responsible for working with research teams and investigators to analyze and interpret cancer genome, RNA sequencing and abstracted clinical data obtained as part of projects in which the HCCC and its members are involved. This includes data management, analysis and database integrations as well as collaborating with HCCC staff t and external investigators/collaborators on the integration of genomics, clinical and molecular data within their scientific projects.
The ideal candidate will be able to identify and apply best-practices computational biology methods to integrate, mine, visualize, and analyze multiple large-scale omics datasets.
This position will be based in the HCCC but will collaborate with bioinformatics teams across campus including those affiliated with the Iowa Institute for Human Genetics and the University of Iowa Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.
Duties also include:
- Work in collaboration with investigators from HCCC to provide computational and statistical analysis support for processing and interpreting NGS datasets, including data derived through research with the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN).
- Data management and analysis of HCCC’s ORIEN data as well as integration of ORIEN data with existing datasets at HCCC.
- Manage ORIEN data workflows including upload from our center via sFTP, bringing down data from cloud platforms, developing custom visualizations and reporting for local researchers.
- Serve as primary contact and resource for HCCC researchers interested in utilization or access to ORIEN data for both internal and external research projects.
- Liaison with the ORIEN, participate in network meetings, collaborations and research initiatives with consortium members.
- Support Research and Investigators in the analysis and interpretation of genomic and clinical data from patient cohorts to understand more about cancer outcomes.
- Evaluate data to establish relevance to the problem being evaluated. Prepare research results for publication in reports, papers, journals and talks.
- Engage in professional development activities and grow in skills/knowledge to stay current emerging techniques and best practices methods.
- Interpret and present the results of the computational and statistical analyses to collaborators and coworkers.
- Stay current on innovations in DNA/RNA sequencing technologies.
- Work as a part of a team and contribute to multiple ongoing projects and connect stakeholders to existing solutions.
- Efficiently manage concurrent projects, collaborate extensively, and document work and code.
- Work with HCCC ORIEN administration, the HPC team and systems administrators to ensure system upgrades and new pipelines are properly implemented, and maintain data storage, integrity, and security.
The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities required of individuals performing this job.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is Iowa’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. The NCI designation recognized our cancer center, and its research scientist, physicians, and other health care professionals, for their roles in advancing cancer research that impacts on our ability to prevent, detect and treat our patients with cancer. Not just a floor, or a building, or even confined to a single college. Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center coordinates all cancer-related research, education, and patient care by faculty from 41 departments and six colleges, as well as UI Hospitals and Clinics and UI Children’s Hospital.
Percent of Time: 100%
Benefits Highlights:
- Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
- Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
Required Qualifications:
- A Master’s degree (MS) or Doctorate (PhD or equivalent) in Human Genetics, Cancer Genetics, Immunology or related field with strong computational genomics experience.
- Demonstrated experience solving data analysis problems in genomics.
- Proficiency in common bioinformatic tools to analyze and interpret raw genomics data
- Experience writing analysis code in R and/or python
- Working knowledge of cancer biology and immunology
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills to interact with other data scientists and experimentalists
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative scientific environment.
- Demonstrated ability to meet project deadlines and turnaround times.
- Familiarity with common bioinformatics data formats
Desirable Qualifications:
- Experience with relational databases and database applications.
- Knowledge of University of Iowa policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Familiarity with ‘git’ for version control and GitHub or GitLab
- Familiarity with best practices for computational reproducible research
- Experience with bioinformatics method development and software development
- Strong record of publication in high-quality journals
Application Process: In order to be considered, applicants must upload a resume and a cover letter (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.
Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check.
References: Five professional references will be requested and required at a later step in the recruitment process
With additional questions, please reach out to Hannah Ihns at hannah-ihns@uiowa.edu
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preference, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply for all employment vacancies. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Coordinator of Title IX and Section 504, and the ADA in The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 319/335-0705 (voice) or 319/335-0697 (text), The University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242-1316.
Persons with disabilities may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu, to inquire or discuss accommodation needs
