Bioinformatics Programmer/Analyst
The research laboratory of Dr. Moriah Szpara at Penn State seeks applicants for a scientific programmer, to join a group focused on the genomic variation of human alpha herpes viruses, and their impact on human health. The successful candidate will interface with bioinformatics and computational groups within the Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences and the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at the Pennsylvania State University. The successful candidate will join a research program analyzing variation among different pathogen strains, the origin and evolution of these differences, and how these variations influence disease development.
Specific duties include implementing existing code for de novo genome assembly, annotation, and cross-comparison, as well as visualizing results using genome browsers, alignment packages, graphing, and dynamic web queries. The successful candidate will apply existing methods for the analysis of RNAseq data, cross-reference results with microarray-based gene expression data, and update an existing web-interface to display these data. The successful candidate will work with the P.I. to develop and implement new data analysis algorithms, and to assess and import the best methods available for these analyses. The candidate will likewise participate in design, development, implementation, and documentation of software required for biological databases, including tools for loading, searching, visualizing, and analyzing data.
Desired qualifications
- Strong math/statistics background, particularly relevant is familiarity with analysis of high throughput sequencing data
- experience with RNA seq, de novo genome assembly, and/or sequence identification and comparison,
- ability to quickly and efficiently implement algorithms and statistical methods
- the ability to work productively in a team environment, communicate effectively with people of varying technical and adjust to the rapidly changing needs of researchers.
Some non-essential, but preferred functions are experience with image analysis, data mining, and signal processing, experience with Matlab or R statistical analysis packages, background and/or interest in biology and genomics and experience with web application development and experience utilizing large computer clusters. Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree or higher in math, computer science, statistics or a related field plus two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Level/Salary Band/Classification: 02 - J - Exempt
Salary Band: $40,800 to $85,668 (depending on qualifications)
Interested applicants should send their CV and a cover letter to Dr. Moriah Szpara (mszpara@princeton.edu)
