What are the responsibilities and job description for the Computational Biologist position at Arena BioWorks?
Arena BioWorks, located in Cambridge, MA, is a new biomedical research institute focused on uncovering the mechanisms of human disease to identify opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The Institute's private funding model allows Arena to advance novel therapeutics by forming and supporting biotech companies up to the early clinical/series B stage.
As a Computational Biologist you will work with a team developing approaches for targeted genome/epigenome editing to achieve cell type-specific transcriptional responses. Projects will include both basic science discovery efforts and translational applications. You will analyze functional genomic data from transcriptional, epigenetic and 3D chromatin assays, and work on developing predictive models. You will use existing best practice analysis tools and pipelines when available and will also be expected to develop and apply new computational and statistical methods when necessary for non-standard and in-house developed assays.
The qualifying candidate is expected to thrive in a multidisciplinary and highly collaborative environment. The desired candidate is passionate about developing and implementing analysis tools for high throughput platforms with a goal of addressing outstanding biological questions and generating meaningful insights into human disease. They also strongly value collaborating with scientists across teams and scientific areas and enjoy continuously learning from the expertise of their peers and colleagues.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Analyze functional genomic data from transcriptional, epigenetic and 3D chromatin structure assays using R and Python
- Develop predictive models of gene regulation using both mechanistic and machine learning approaches using Python
- Work closely with a wide range of lab members, including assisting with and/or providing input on experimental study design to ensure compatibility with computational analysis and statistical considerations
- Consult with scientists across teams to identify appropriate analysis strategies
- Document code and communicate findings to cross-functional scientific teams and to the broader scientific community through written data reports, publications, and/or internal and external research presentations
Qualifications:
- PhD in biological science, computational biology or related field
- Publication record demonstrating bioinformatics methods development
- Thorough understanding of statistical methods for analyzing high-dimensional data
- Experience analyzing genomics data using R and/or Python
- Interest in learning and troubleshooting new computational methods
- Ability to work independently and as a team member, including to supervise and train junior associates
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
