Computational Genomics Principal Research Scientist (T1D)
Organisation Name: Vertex
Organisation Type:
City:
State:
Country: United States
Job Description:
Job Description
We are seeking a Computational Genomics Principal Research Scientist to support the development of stem cell-derived islet cell therapies for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This position is within the broader Data and Computational Sciences (DCS) team focused on developing cell and genetic therapies to treat serious human diseases. You will collaborate closely with T1D cross-functional project teams such as stem cell, immunology, and gene editing research to design studies, analyze and interpret large-scale genomics data, and communicate results that will have a critical impact on the development of the next generation of cell therapies.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Collaborate closely with cross-functional research teams to identify key needs and questions that can be addressed using genomics, sequencing, or other bioinformatics approaches
Design and perform sophisticated, technically challenging work, efficiently and independently across a number of critical and diverse projects
Perform advanced troubleshooting and methods development, and may be routinely called upon to assist others outside of own projects
Plan, execute, and iterate on data analyses in partnership with computational and experimental team members to derive actionable insights on islet cell differentiation and immunology through deep critical thinking and published findings
Generate effective hypotheses from data, set new experimental direction, and identify broad implications to findings that can influence research strategies.
Carry out a wide range of NGS computational analyses to support growing needs and priorities across the therapeutic program, such as bulk RNA-seq, single cell genomic and multiomic profiling, spatial transcriptomics, genetic screens, and on/off-target gene editing
Communicate on a regular basis to research project teams and other key stakeholders to present findings, key next steps, and recommendations to ensure timely progress
Scour relevant scientific literature and incorporates new insights into research activities and evaluation of new technologies and methods
Partner with method development team members, identifying opportunities to improve usability, accuracy, and robustness of internal methods
Practice reproducible research and version control in data analysis
Author study reports to support regulatory filings
Minimum Qualifications:
Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in computational biology, bioinformatics, human genetics, genomics, systems biology, bioengineering, or a related field, and 4-7 years of relevant post-doctoral employment experience, or
Deep knowledge and extensive track record of accomplishments in the analysis, visualization, and interpretation of genomic and next-generation sequencing (NGS) data using a variety of computational approaches
In depth scientific understanding of gene editing, functional genomics, molecular biology, developmental biology, or immunology
Demonstrated ability to work closely with cross-functional project teams to design studies and carry out analyses to answer scientific questions under defined timelines.
Superior communicator, demonstrating the ability to write advanced technical documents and demonstrating confidence and versatility in presenting verbally to diverse audiences
Scientific creativity, advanced judgment, balancing technical feasibility and scientific opportunity/impact
Proficiency in R or Python to adapt and execute pipelines for data analysis
Experience working in high performance computing (HPC) Linux-based systems
Solid scientific understanding of statistics
Company Information
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.
Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
Please note that Vertex requires COVID-19 vaccination for all employees working in the U.S. as a condition of employment at Vertex, subject to medical, religious or other accommodations or exemptions required by law. We believe this requirement is vital to keeping everyone at Vertex and in our communities safe. This requirement applies to both existing and new employees who may at any time work on-site at a Vertex facility or visit another location on behalf of Vertex (e.g., conferences, customer visits, etc.), including all remote employees. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com.
