Computational Biology Specialist – Metagenomics

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Maryland.

📋 Description

• The ideal candidate will collaborate with existing computational biology experts to: implement, design, develop, and enhance both current and emerging bioinformatics and computational biology algorithms focused on processing, analyzing, managing, interpreting, and visualizing original scientific data.

• Engage in scientific collaborations with physicians and researchers, which may include opportunities for authorships and acknowledgments in published works.

• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD “public trust”; candidates must receive approved adjudication before joining Guidehouse. Preference will be given to candidates with an active public trust or suitability.

• Collect detailed information from stakeholders and identify existing tools or create innovative algorithms/tools for conducting custom and novel analyses.

• Develop, maintain, document, and deliver training materials and sessions that assist collaborators and researchers in applying metagenomics methods and high-throughput data processing workflows.

• Research, design, and produce educational materials that foster wider adoption and effective utilization of computational biology techniques, tools, and software among NIH researchers.

• Support collaborators in designing new study projects by offering advice and guidance on sequencing methods and analytical or statistical considerations necessary for achieving project objectives.

• Provide on-demand support and troubleshooting assistance to researchers and collaborators using computational biology software and pipelines related to metagenomics and high-throughput sequencing.

• Stay updated on computational biology literature, as well as emerging technologies, methods, and tools.

• Collaborate with software developers to create and integrate metagenomics software solutions within enterprise platforms.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Master's or Ph.D. in computational biology, microbiology, statistics, or a related field in life, physical, or computational sciences, with at least TWO (2) publications demonstrating the use or development of metagenomic methods.

• Strong understanding of high-throughput metagenomic technologies and techniques, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, molecular biology, and metagenomics software (e.g., QIIME2, MetaPhlan, MEGAN, Kraken, Ganon, HUMAnN, etc.).

• At least TWO (2) years of experience in analyzing large-scale metagenomic data (shotgun metagenomics, amplicon sequencing), metagenomics file types (FASTQ, SAM/BAM, biom, HDF5, etc.), and familiarity with a wide range of relevant open-source software or pipelines (DADA2, USEARCH, DIAMOND, Bowtie2, BioBakery, genomic assemblers, CheckM, etc.).

• Experience working with pertinent metagenomic databases and browsers and their annotations (SILVA, RDP, Greengenes, NCBI/RefSeq, IMG/M, GTDB, UHGG, etc.).

• Proficient in UNIX/Linux and its command-line environment, including scripting (Python, R, Bash, etc.), along with experience using code repositories like GitHub or Bitbucket.

• Skilled in functional and taxonomic annotation of metagenomic data through enrichment and annotation tools (KEGG, eggNOG, InterProScan, Pfam, MetaCyc).

• Familiarity with high-performance parallel computing environments (e.g., SLURM, PBS, UGE).

• Knowledge of community analysis tools (e.g., phyloseq), visualization tools (e.g., ggplots), and common methods in multivariate statistical analyses (linear mixed models, Bayesian approaches, differential abundance) along with related tools (e.g., MaASLin2).

• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, written, and oral communication abilities to effectively convey computational biology principles and concepts to non-specialists and provide guidance on relevant software and tools with a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.

• Capability to work autonomously or as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly learn and assess new software for metagenomic analyses.

• Capacity to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, demonstrating effective time management skills, a high level of personal and professional motivation, and attention to detail.

• Proficient in using open-source bioinformatics applications that utilize ontologies, pathways, and/or networks, at both the individual organism and metagenomic community levels.

• Awareness of issues and challenges associated with the storage and management of metagenomics-scale data.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays

• Parental Leave

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Group Term Life and Travel Assistance

• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance

• Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

• Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities

• Employee Referral Program

• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach

• Care.com annual membership

• Employee Assistance Program

• Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance, and ID theft protection, etc.)