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Why join Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

We are seeking a Junior Bioinformatician to join the laboratory of Ting Wu at Harvard Medical School as part of a project to study genome organization, function, and evolution, including sequence conservation. The successful candidate will contribute to computational studies in this context. Ideal qualities include experience in handling complex data analysis, a strong motivation to learn, attention to detail in data analysis, a collaborative spirit, creativity, and open-mindedness. The candidate will work closely within an interdisciplinary team comprising geneticists, engineers, biochemists, and microscopy experts, receiving direct mentorship and guidance from senior lab members. We are particularly interested in candidates with hands-on experience with structural variant analysis (including point mutations and chromosomal rearrangements) and a strong understanding of the interpretation and analysis of genomic variant data (e.g., VCF files).

Specific Responsibilities:

The candidate will assist in addressing key questions in genetics, focusing on the role of sequence conservation in maintaining genome integrity. This will entail:

1. Collaborating with senior team members to design and perform computational analyses using established and innovative methods. 
   1. Writing and executing scripts for various computational and statistical analyses (e.g., Python/R, Command Line, Shell, MATLAB, and widely-used genomic tools such as Bedtools, SAMtools, and Bowtie; with a willingness to learn new tools such as PyTorch, and machine learning methods).
   2. Utilizing expertise in SV calling and interpretation of VCF files to support genomic analyses and data quality control.
   3. Assisting in researching and obtaining access to publicly available structural variant and SNV databases to support studies (e.g., gnomAD, 1000 Genomes, UK Biobank, T2T Consortium, TCGA, SFARI, etc.) that align with the research goals of the lab.
2. Contributing to the management of data and organization of sub-projects, with support and supervision from more experienced lab members.
3. Staying updated on relevant literature and emerging computational tools.
4. Participating in regularly scheduled weekly meetings with the senior bioinformatician to formally report and discuss results. There will also be opportunities to share key findings during lab meetings.
5. Collaborating with colleagues within and outside the laboratory and participating in training sessions on computational methods.  

Basic Qualifications:

• 4 or more years of experience required. Higher education may count toward years of experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in biological science or related field preferred 
• Training and experience in biology, molecular biology, computational biology, data science, statistics, or related fields.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and MATLAB, with experience in cloud or cluster computing, preferred. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.

• Term: This is a one-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position. 
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hrs. per week | Monday - Friday | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information: Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.
• Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, we may not always be able to reach out right away, but you can track your status anytime through the Careers@Harvard portal.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 055. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

About Harvard University

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

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