Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Computational Functional Genomics - Gillani Lab

Overview

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute seeks a Post-Doctoral Computational Biologist in the Gillani Lab in Computational Pediatric Cancer Research ( The Post-Doctoral Computational Biologist will work on the analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic datasets with the goal of arriving at new insights around targetable biology and clinical biomarkers to advance the care of pediatric cancer patients.

The mission of the Gillani Lab is to advance pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer care using cutting-edge computational biology approaches. We strive to understand the germline genetics and tumor genomics of pediatric cancer to inform novel approaches to treatment. We value great science that matters to patients, caring about each other as people and colleagues, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration.

The qualified candidate will design and lead projects grounded in data analysis in the domain of computational pediatric cancer research. They will develop and support data processing and analysis tools, create new algorithms for focused research questions in bulk and single cell tumor analysis, integrate tools and databases into existing high-throughput pipelines, and drive projects to completion and publication.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A Ph.D. in genetics, computational biology, statistics, computer science, biomedical engineering, mathematics, or other related disciplines/ comparable research experience. Candidates with an M.D. who have commensurate research experience are also encouraged to apply.

• Significant research experience in computational biology and its common applications (experience in R and/or Python, as well as cloud computing)

• A strong background in statistics and biology

• Experience managing and curating large datasets

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to perform both self-directed and guided research

• Outstanding personal initiative and the ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Ability to meet deadlines and efficiently multitask

• Ability to effectively collaborate across a range of individuals from various disciplines, ranging from computer science to clinical medicine

• Ability to seek out mentorship and assistance as needed, while also being a mentor to other members of the research team

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Related projects and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Whole-genome sequencing and single-cell sequencing analysis of tumor samples

• Studies of resistance to existing and emerging cancer therapies using patient-derived data

• Studies of patient samples for tumor behavior and clinical outcomes

• Development and implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms for biologically and clinically motivated questions in pediatric oncology

Projects are collaborative efforts between the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, the Harvard Medical School, and multiple other institutions. Projects have the potential to identify novel approaches for personalized care in oncology. In addition, this data may provide support for new methods in clinical decision-making, biomarkers for rational drug development, and new insights into tumor biology through innovative analyses. The Post-Doctoral Computational Biologist hired for this position will join a collaborative team in this effort and will participate in the design and implementation of algorithms to analyze the data and integrate with other data sets including clinical outcomes data. 

This Post-Doctoral Computational Biologist will also help with the generation of tools needed for manipulating and preparing data for display; transferring data to external collaborators and data repositories; and will also help maintain, support, and document shared tools, code, and data sets. As the field of clinical computational oncology evolves, this position is likely to present diverse and flexible opportunities - from deeper and more complex software design problems, to becoming more involved in the bioinformatic and analytic aspects of predictive modeling. As such, the Post-Doctoral Computational Biologist should have a willingness to learn new languages and tools as the field grows, as well as have an interest in cancer biology/ medicine more broadly.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position will involve co-mentoring of students joining the group as described above, with opportunities for growth in developing multi-disciplinary teams that are project oriented.

PATIENT CONTACT:  NA

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

The Post-Doctoral Researcher is requested to be in the office to facilitate integration with the collaborative team, learning, and meaningful progress on research projects.

Activity

Physical Demands

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under state or federal law, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed within the job description) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

DISCLAIMER: 

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$72,000.00 - $76,385.00