Lead Genomic Medical Laboratory Scientist

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

The NGS laboratory is a new initiative in the Department of Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to provide oncology laboratory diagnostic services using cutting edge technology.

The Lead Genomic Scientist will mentor and lead the Genomic team to establish testing, data analysis and reporting protocols of the acquired genomic data and ensures adherence to regulatory standards.

The selected candidate will perform computational analysis of next generation sequencing data including single nucleotide variations, somatic copy number alterations, indels, expression profiling, and biological pathways using in house algorithms and prepare report for final review.

This position will also be responsible to validate and implement genomic assay protocols following CLIA guidelines, CAP checklists and safety compliance. This role requires establishing standard operating protocols to generate and analyze precise, reliable, and reproducible data in a timely manner.

The Lead Genomic Medical Laboratory Scientist will support and train junior lab scientists to perform various molecular tasks including but not limited to nucleic acid extraction, PCR, library preparation, sequencing workflow executions and analysis. The ideal candidate will demonstrate good communication, presentation, and technical writing skills, team-working spirit, and strong scientific thinking approach in problem solving.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

• Independently define and plan project goals and design experiments. Lead the team to design, validate and implement NGS-based assays for oncology laboratory diagnosis.
• Responsible to write and submit validation plan, validation summary and standard operation procedures for review and approval.
• Provide technical support and training to junior lab scientists to perform molecular assays and routine instrument maintenance in compliance with CLIA and safety requirements.
• Supervise daily laboratory operation and optimize laboratory workflow for efficient use of time.
• Provide technical resources to team for any operation and instrumentation issue.
• Initiate new technology improvement and quality assurance projects to improve performance and services.
• Conduct competency assessment of the team in compliance with CLIA regulations.
• Analyze acquired genomic data and prepare report for subsequent secondary review and release following the verification by the bioinformatician and/or molecular director.
• Responsible in quality control, data analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Maintain accurate lab records and documentation of quality control and quality assurance.
• Manage inventory of supplies and reagents to ensure availability and proper storage.

Required Qualifications

Required

• Doctoral degree in biochemistry, immunology, molecular science or a related field is required.
• At least 3 to 5 years molecular or genomic lab experience including DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation and NGS analysis. Some coding knowledge of either R, Matlab, and/or python.
• The ability to work in teams and good communication skills.

Preferred

• American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) certified in Molecular Diagnostics. Background in molecular genetic data. Understanding of statistical methods and working in cloud computing and UNIX environments.
• Experience with sequencing platforms such as Illumina MiSeq/NextSeq/NovaSeq or Oxford Nanopore. Knowledge of bioinformatics tools. Experience with laboratory liquid handling automation.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft applications which may include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access and other web-based applications. May produce complex documents, perform analysis and maintain databases.

Competencies

Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are guided by general instructions and practices requiring some interpretation. May make recommendations for solving problems of moderate complexity and importance.

Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are varied, requiring analysis or interpretation of the situation using direct observation, knowledge and skills based on general precedents.

Independence of Action: Ability to set goals and determines how to accomplish defined results with some guidelines. Manager/Director provides broad guidance and overall direction.

Written Communications: Ability to summarize and communicate in English moderately complex information in varied written formats to internal and external customers.

Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and communicate complex verbal information in English to medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.

Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of concepts, practices and policies with the ability to use them in complex varied situations.

Team Work: Ability to act as a team leader for small projects or work groups, creating a collaborative and respectful team environment and improving workflows. Results may impact the operations of one or more departments.

Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service to patients, visitors, staff and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Social/Environmental Requirements

Work requires close attention to task for work to be accurately completed. Intermittent breaks during the work day do not compromise the work.

Work is varied every day and the employee needs to be adaptable to respond to these changes and use independent judgment and manage priorities.

No substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions

Health Care Status: NHCW: No patient contact.- Health Care Worker Status may vary by department

Sensory Requirements

Close work (paperwork, visual examination), Color vision/perception, Visual monotony, Visual clarity <3 feet, Conversation, Monitoring Equipment, Telephone.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally in carrying, lifting, pushing, pulling objects. Sitting most of the time, with walking and standing required only occasionally

This job requires frequent sitting, Keyboard use.

Pay Range

$50.45 - $67.90

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.