Bioinformatics Analyst II - Laboratory of Dr. Pallav Kosuri
Salk Institute for Biological Studies

SUMMARY:

As a Bioinformatics Analyst II, this position will be supporting the Laboratory of Dr. Pallav Kosuri where they will focus on computational method development and application for ongoing research in spatial transcriptomics. We seek to understand the fundamental rules governing how cells interact with each other within the three-dimensional space of biological tissue. Our primary project centers on cardiac biology, however our research also includes other domains such as immunology and neuroscience. Your core duties will revolve around creating and implementing novel methods to derive insights from in-house generated large-scale image and sequence datasets.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implements and develops computational analysis pipelines for spatial transcriptomics data and other new kinds of spatial data, implements and develops image analysis software for analyzing microscope images, and produces graphs and data presentations.
• Utilizes high-performance local and cloud-based computational resources to set up and run custom data analysis pipelines.
• Works closely with a team of scientists on cutting-edge cardiac biology and neuroscience research projects.
• Documents code and assists other scientists with analysis.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Required:
• B.S. degree in computer science, bioinformatics, computational biology, bioengineering, mathematics, statistics, or related discipline.
• 4+ years of professional experience in a scientific role in a relevant field (graduate studies included).
• Advanced Python coding skills.

• Preferred:
• PhD or Master’s degree in computer science, computational biology, systems biology, bioinformatics or related scientific discipline

• Preferred coursework: Computer vision, image analysis, machine learning, algorithms, bioinformatics, physics, statistics.
• Preferred computational skills:
  • DevOps - Git, Continuous integration (eg. Pytest/Unittest, Jenkins/Tox/GitHub Actions), Docs (Sphinx/Mkdocs).
  • ML tooling - High-level frameworks (eg. Keras, PyTorch Lightning, Huggingface), experiment logging (eg. WandB, Tensorboard, MLFlow)
  • Containerization (eg. Docker/Singularity, Kubernetes)
  • Single-cell bioinformatics analysis tools (ScanPy/Seurat).
  • Data visualization and GUI design.
  • Experience coding in R.

SALK VALUES:

• Integrity - Guides our moral compass and underpins our every action. We do what is right in all situations for no other reason than because it is right. We uphold honesty and ethical behavior and make good on our commitments. We understand that words and deeds matter and that integrity leads to trust.
• Community - Enables us to harness the power of our collective talents. We work together towards common goals. We recognize the importance of diversity where everyone’s ideas, identities, backgrounds, and perspectives are valued and pave the paths that propel us forward. We understand our pioneering role in the broader scientific community and take pride in our efforts to have a positive impact on the world.
• Accountability - Keeps us focused and keeps us honest. We are responsible not only for our own success, but the success of our teams and the entire Institute. We consider how the actions we take and the decisions we make in our own work may impact others.
• Respect - Creates the foundation of trust and brings out the best in us all. We value the experiences, identities, and feelings of those we work with, regardless of their position or their relationship to us. We provide feedback in a constructive manner, use appropriate language, and allow others to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of ridicule.
• Empowerment - Amplifies all voices and inspires the pursuit of greatness. We lift each other up, enabling us to grow continuously and live to our fullest potential. We support the expression of ideas, encourage self-advocacy, inspire confidence and recognize that an environment of mutual respect is critical to our collective success.

COMPETENCIES:

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

The expected pay range for this position is $67,500-$88,750 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to sit
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally required to talk or hear
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Color vision

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces diverse perspectives and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements.  Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All individuals who accept a position with the Salk Institute must be willing to work in an animal-related research environment, must successfully complete the Institute’s background investigation and must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement.