Junior Bioinformaticist

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.