Computational Biologist

About Us:

We are a VC-backed startup developing in vivo genetic medicines to engineer the transcriptome and genome of diseased cells. We are building a team of resourceful and creative scientists and engineers with a passion for developing new technologies and engineering biological systems. We are combining protein and nucleic acid engineering, high-throughput screening, genomics and computational biology to build a platform for rapid development and optimization of new therapies. We are located in South San Francisco.

About this role:

We are seeking an experienced Computational Biologist to join our team to develop methods and infrastructure that enables design of new genetic medicines. This individual will implement rapid engineering cycles based on integrated design, build, test and analysis steps. The work will involve designing molecular cloning and protein engineering schemes, analyzing and integrating sequencing, qPCR, microscopy and flow cytometry data sets, with an emphasis on developing automated workflows and data visualization. Initial projects will focus on building research pipelines, with a longer-term view of scaling towards pre-clinical development. The ability to adopt new analytical methods, particularly based on NGS, will be critical.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Analyze RNA-seq datasets generated to test activity of programmable RNA and DNA engineering systems through differential gene expression analysis
• Interface with lab notebook software to ensure tracking and mapping of experiments and data sets
• Develop workflows to integrate flow cytometry and microscopy data with RNA-seq and genomic data
• Develop data visualizations to communicate complex data sets
• Improve computational approaches related to NGS data QC and normalization, clustering of cell populations, inferring cellular trajectories and reconstructing lineage hierarchies

Qualifications/Skills:

• Expertise in programming languages commonly used in Bioinformatics (such as Python and/or R)
• Fluency with Linux shell scripting and high-performance computing
• Expertise in analysis of diverse sequencing data sets (e.g. amplicon, RNAseq, ChIP-seq, exomes)
• Passion to build innovative software solutions and data analysis pipelines
• Commitment to rigor in scientific research
• Ability to write and publish articles in quality peer-reviewed journals, and present at internal and external meetings
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented

Education / Experience:

• Graduate degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Genomics, or a related field
• 5 years of hands-on experience with Bioinformatics methods
• Demonstrated track record of analyzing high-throughput sequencing data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology related fields
• Prior experience with RNA-seq data
• Significant experience in implementing pipelines for NGS data analysis
• Hands-on experience analyzing pooled genetic screens (e.g. shRNA, CRISPR, CRISPRi)
• Experience developing molecular biology analysis tools
• Knowledge of Amazon cloud computing and Docker

Why join?

While we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for our employee’s professional and personal growth and well-being. We offer a competitive compensation package including employee ownership and excellent benefits. Our benefits package includes highly subsidized health plans, flexible time off and an extraordinary culture. Apply today to be part of a challenging work environment with exceptional colleagues, strong scientific rigor, and the ability to make a difference.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

How to Apply

Please include a CV and cover letter explaining why you want to work with us and how you are qualified for this role.  

This opportunity is full-time only.  No contractors, consultancies or recruiters will be considered.