Research Data Analyst

General Summary/Purpose

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University is recruiting an individual to lead analyses on epigenomics analyses such as (ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq) and single cell analyses in cancer models. This person will be active in the data pre-processing stages as well as analysis and interpretation of results.

The Toska lab integrates biochemistry, cell signaling, genomics and epigenomics at bulk and single cell level to study the fundamental processes by which epigenetic regulators regulate transcription, have the ability to drive tumorigenesis and dictate therapeutic response in breast cancer. The Fertig lab develops time course models of therapeutic resistance and performs single cell technology development. Her computational methods are used to determine the molecular mechanisms of therapeutic resistance from multi-platform genomics and epigenomics data.  The successful candidate will become a fundamental component of this multidisciplinary team with mentorship in both computational and biological processes affecting therapeutic response in cancer.

Eligible candidate will be involved in designing and developing analysis plans to address biological hypotheses in our ChIP-seq/ATAC-seq/RNA-seq and RNA-seq and ATAC-seq at the single level acquired from breast cancer models such as cell lines, organoids, and patients treated with targeted therapies. The candidate will interact daily with other data analysts within the Institute, as well as Genomics experts, and clinicians. This position requires collaboration with clinical and scientific investigators in research/study design, data analysis plans, algorithm development, grant applications, and preparation of presentations and publications. The candidate should work independently and in collaboration with faculty to solve problems posed by the clinical and laboratory investigators along the study design, data generation, collection and management process; interaction with bioinformatic experts, biostatistician program developers, computational scientists, health informatic experts as well as postdoc fellows from the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Bloomberg School of Public Health on our epigenomic data mining initiatives with the goal of translating these findings into therapeutic modalities for cancer patients. The applicant may share efforts between 1-3 labs.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Plan data management including determining type, format of data and types of documentation, considering privacy, confidentiality and other ethical issues
• Facilitate acquisition of single cell sequencing data from core facilities
• Clean data by coding missing data, fixing or deleting miscoded data, transforming variables into more useful formats, and annotating the data in proper way, use descriptive statistics to help characterize and summarize the data
• Collaborate with clinical and scientific investigators in the breast cancer and biostat teams to propose ideas for new projects, design research, develop data plan, and prepare analyses with general direction from investigators
• Apply different technical approaches to visualize the data and prepare publication-quality tables and graphs based on valid analysis
• Lead or participate actively in the team responsible for designing and validating analysis data sets, programs, and statistical output products
• Identify potential data problems from analytic queries and bring them to the attention of the team
• Demonstrate understanding of high dimensional data collection processes and data sets and share knowledge with collaborators
• Collaborate closely with investigators, and other team leadership to ensure that research study or project results and conclusions are presented accurately and without bias
• Demonstrate progress in ability to multi-task and manage time spent working with individual faculty members and on specific projects
• Participates in regularly schedule meetings with study investigators and team. Prepares progress reports as needed. Maintain appropriate systems for data organization
• Assure data quality for documentation and dissemination of data. Conduct and track specific activities to accomplish project goals, including evaluating and reporting data and documenting analytic procedures
• Able to work collaboratively in a team environment with a high degree of initiative and self-motivation

Equipment, Machine, or Tool Requirements:

• Experience with computers and servers and knowledge of Linux/UNIX as well as other common operating systems such as Mac OS and Windows is necessary
• Experience with server configuration and troubleshooting preferred
• Ability to use the internet and web-based scholarly search engines

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Computer Science Bioinformatics or related field

• Minimum of 3 years related experience in analyzing genomic data
• Experience with code development, optimization, and testing
• Additional education (Master's level) may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula:

* JHU Equivalency Formula: 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job. *

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Statistics, Computer Science Bioinformatics or related field

Familiarity with cancer epigenetics

Familiarity with common computational biology tools and software packages, such as Bioconductor

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency with bioinformatics concepts, methods, and tools, with experience working in languages such as R or Python, leveraging Bioconductor and bioconda
• Coursework or work experience covering topics in statistics, molecular biology, genetics, and script-level programming
• Proficiency with genomic data, tools, and databases
• Familiarity with common computational biology tools
• Experience with experimental design principles, reproducible research principles, and data storage, security, and safety
• Excellent interpersonal skills in consulting with researchers and understanding their problems
• Excellent writing and verbal skills in the preparation and presentation of reports
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to details are required
• Must be detail-oriented, focused, creative, and independent
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English with excellent communication skills

Classified Title: Research Data Analyst 
Working Title: Research Data Analyst  ​​​​​
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MC 
Starting Salary Range: $45,195 - $62,225; Commensurate with Experience
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am- 5:00pm, Up to 37.5 hrs/week 
Exempt Status: Exempt  
Location: 04-MD:School of Medicine Campus 
Department name: 10002942-SOM Onc Breast and Ovarian Cancer 
Personnel area: School of Medicine

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work.  Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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