Bioinformatics Data Scientist

The Beenome100 Project is an exciting new initiative to provide over 100 reference-quality genome assemblies, annotations and post-annotation resources for bee species representing each of the major taxonomic groups in the United States. We are seeking a Bioinformatics Data Wrangler (Researcher III) to provide post-annotation resources for the Beenome100 Project, in collaboration with the i5k Workspace@NAL project (https://i5k.nal.usda.gov/). The incumbent will add capacity to both projects to:

• Generate new shared datasets for the project, to be displayed and disseminated at the i5k Workspace@NAL (e.g. population genomic tracks, protein alignments from related species, etc).
• Manually review, and if needed, update gene predictions relevant to social evolution or other target fields of the Beenome100 project.
• If desired, author peer-reviewed publication(s) or conference presentation(s) on topics relevant to the project.

Preferred start date is Spring 2024 with an initial 1 year term renewable upon satisfactory performance. Review of applications will begin January 2, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.

 

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah. Telework outside of the state of Utah is subject to review and approval by the University prior to a job offer being extended.

• Develop and/or maintain workflows and workflow documentation for generating datasets relevant to Beenome100 project needs (e.g. population genomic tracks, protein alignments from related species, etc); [45%]
• Use workflows to generate datasets and load them into the i5k workspace@NAL; [30%]
• Manually curate genes and gene families identified by the Beenome100 community as high priority in the Apollo software; [10%]
• Contribute to preparation of reports, publications, and presentations related to your work; [10%]
• Actively participate in regular Beenome100 and i5k Workspace project meetings. [5%]

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biological sciences or related field; OR Master’s degree in biological sciences or related field AND 4 years’ related experience
• Demonstrated bioinformatics programming skills (using e.g. Python, perl, R)
• Experience with unix or linux command line
• Strong written and oral English communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years (Ph.D.) or 6+ years (Masters’) of post-degree experience in bioinformatics programming
• Research experience in insect molecular biology or insect evolutionary biology
• Experience in manual gene curation
• Experience with workflow languages (e.g. common workflow language, nextflow, snakemake, or other)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communication skills
• Proficiency in generating bioinformatics pipelines in relationship to evolutionary genomics or other related fields
• Problem solving, especially as it pertains to bioinformatics and coding issues

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant and space-grant university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion. USU serves approximately 27,500 students throughout the state at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online has served students from all 50 states and 55 countries for over 25 years, and USU Extension provides outreach and service to all counties in Utah.  

 

As a land-grant university, USU engages communities and empowers people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. As an R1 research institution, USU provides a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price. Washington Monthly has consistently ranked USU in the top 10 among public universities for contribution to social mobility, research, and public service.  

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where different perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 7/2023

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023