Computational Biologist I

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report , we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!


JOB SUMMARY
Perform professional work in support of scientific research using technical knowledge of software, software development, networking, and/or hardware in a complex computing environment. Subject matter expert in multiple areas of computing technology, and specific knowledge of molecular biology and genetics. Works collaboratively with Principal Investigator ("PI") to determine the most suitable computational methods and tools to analyze large-scale biological data sets. Prepare reports for presentation or publication. Responsible for assisting PI in meeting the system needs for multiple research projects and/or labs.


We are seeking a motivated bioinformatics staff scientist with interests in computational analysis of complex biological data. The successful candidate will work with diverse multi-omic datasets, develop and refine analytical pipelines, and help translate biological questions into computationally driven insights. This position offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen in-demand bioinformatics and data science skills, work in a collaborative environment with both computational and experimental researchers, and contribute to impactful publications and discoveries that support future careers in academia, industry, or biotech.
Xu lab pioneers the application of artificial intelligence (AI) -particularly foundation models and LLMs-to drive biological and medical discovery, with a focus on interpretable and generalizable AI frameworks that extend foundation models into genomics, epigenomics, and precision medicine. For example, his team developed an AI-based approach to identify cardiovascular disease genes and validated these findings experimentally in a novel mouse model and preclinical studies, leading to publication in Nature in 2020. More recently, his team developed an LLM-based method that enabled the discovery and experimental validation of a new transcriptional biosensor, published in Science in 2026. His lab has also published multiple LLM algorithms in biology and medical applications, including DEEP-Align, DeMoP, MedLLMCoach, OmniHealthFM, and others.

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

• Education
  Master's Degree In Computer Science or a related field of biological science or
  Bachelor's Degree In Computer Science or a related field of biological science

• Experience
  2 years Related research experience in bioinformatics and computational biology with Bachelor's Degree

JOB DUTIES

• Manage research laboratory computer hardware and software programming and maintenance. Ensure existing systems meet the continuing needs of the lab and/or recommend and test new systems as necessary.
• Perform complex data analysis related to specialized research methodologies and results as assigned by the PI.
• Develop and/or modify software to support new and ongoing research projects.
• Resolve hardware, software, and network issues in support of the lab.
• Develop and maintain complex databases to support new and ongoing research projects.
• Train laboratory staff in the use of pertinent research systems.
• May specialize in bioinformatics, software development, network administration, or hardware/software maintenance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT

Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.