M&I Bioinformatics Analyst

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate in the life sciences, computer science or engineering, or related field. Candidates must have significant bioinformatics experience.
• 3+ years of research experience in genomics, genetics, molecular biology or computational biology.
• Hands-on experience in developing and carrying out data analytical strategies and pipelines for analyzing datasets from high-throughput platforms such as next generation sequencing.
• Proficiency with the Linux shell environment, a programming language (R and/or python), plus currently used tools (e.g. BWA, HISAT2, GATK, Seurat, etc.).
• Must be able to understand and translate life scientist researchers' scientific goals into analytical strategies and process requirements.
• Must be able to function as part of an interactive team while demonstrating self-initiative to achieve the project's goals and the group's mission.
• Critical and independent thinking.
• Excellent oral and written English communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research background in microbiology and/or immunology is highly preferred.
• Significant experience with one or more of the following types of analysis is highly preferred: bulk and single cell transcriptomics, variant calling, genome assembly/annotation and epigenomics.
• Use of reproducible research methods and software version control (e.g. git/GitHub).
• Advanced statistical, data modeling and machine learning skills.
• Experience using high performance computing (HPC) environments and job scheduling.

Job Overview

The Research Informatics (RI) Bioinformatics group within the University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) is hiring a full-time Bioinformatics Analyst to support research for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI) at the University of Minnesota. The analyst in this position will conduct cutting-edge bioinformatics analyses in close collaboration with a diverse set of labs within the DMI department. The successful candidate will be the second member of the DMI bioinformatics team, a subset of the nineteen-person RI Bioinformatics group at MSI.

The candidate will work with researchers in DMI on a variety of basic and translational research projects investigating topics including viral immunology, adaptive immune response, pathogen detection and the evolution of drug resistance. Many of these projects involve single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, so there is ample opportunity for the analyst to break new ground by exploring novel methods and tools.

MSI and DMI have a strong commitment to the University’s goal of creating a positive and inclusive campus climate by advancing equity and diversity. We aim to hire high-potential people with varying identities and backgrounds. The analyst in this position must have excellent communication skills, strong analytical, computational, and life sciences training or experience, and be comfortable working independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team on diverse projects.

Responsibilities

• 80%: Serve as a bioinformatics analyst and developer for research projects for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI), designing and implementing appropriate informatics workflows.
• 10%: Appropriately document and present methods and results in both internal and external reports, publications, and presentations, and provide periodic seminars and workshops for departmental researchers.
• 5%: Consult with DMI researchers on experimental design and planning.
• 5%: Identify and integrate new, cutting-edge molecular technologies and analysis methods as they become useful for research purposes (e.g., single cell/nucleus RNA-seq/ATAC-seq, spatial transcriptomics, machine learning, etc.)

The ideal candidate will have advanced knowledge of next generation sequencing technologies with demonstrated practical experience in developing and carrying out analytical strategies in the context of NGS applications of critical importance to microbiology and immunology research (e.g. bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, allele-specific expression analysis, bulk and single-cell ATAC-seq, viral discovery, variant calling, genome assembly and annotation, metagenomics, etc.). While candidates ideally will have experience in more than one type of bioinformatics analysis, candidates are not expected to have experience in all types of analyses we handle and learning new analysis techniques is part of the role.

The Research Informatics (RI) Bioinformatics group at the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) was formed in 2011, leveraging MSI’s rich computational environment to foster innovative bioinformatics collaboration with researchers across the University and Minnesota.

The Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) is a core research facility of the University of Minnesota (U of M), part of Research Computing within the Office of the Vice President for Research. MSI provides advanced research computing infrastructure and expertise to the University's research and scholarly community and the State of Minnesota in order to advance and accelerate research and foster innovation and discoveries through advanced computing technologies, scientific computing and informatics, application development, and services. The Institute currently supports over 900 different groups with over 4500 active users spanning the sciences, engineering, life sciences, medicine, and social sciences.

RIO and MSI endorse a “work with flexibility” approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to do their best.

This MSI position has responsibilities that will require on-site work at least 50% of the time, with options for management-approved flexible work arrangements. This position is not eligible for 100% remote work. Offices for bioinformatics staff positions are located in Walter Library on the Twin Cities, East Bank Campus.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).