Computational Biologist

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, known as one of the pioneers in personalized cancer medicine, is an international leader in research and cancer treatment. Driven by its mission to end cancer as we know it, the institute is building upon its expertise in targeted treatments to advance the early detection of cancer when the disease is most treatable.

 

The Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) center, a collaborative institution within the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, is dedicated to pioneering new methods for early cancer detection. The Knight Cancer Institute, recognized globally for its leadership in personalized cancer medicine, continues to advance the frontiers of research and treatment. At CEDAR, our mission is to detect and stop lethal cancers at their earliest stages because early detection saves lives.

 

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles: 

• We act BOLDLY—Breakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differently
• We SUPPORT each other—Respect leads to trust, which leads to excellence
• We work as a CONNECTED team—We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone

In this dynamic and inspiring environment, the research group led by Dr. Hisham Mohammed is seeking a talented Computational Biologist with a strong focus on DNA methylation data analysis. The successful candidate will play a critical role in analyzing large-scale DNA methylation datasets, including both bulk sequencing and single-cell data, with the goal of longitudinally generating disease-specific "clocks" for early cancer detection.

• Process, analyze, and interpret large-scale DNA methylation datasets, including bulk and single-cell sequencing data.
• Apply existing bioinformatics tools and methods for DNA methylation analysis, while also developing novel approaches as necessary to address specific research questions.
• Generate disease-specific epigenetic "clocks" through longitudinal data analysis to enhance our understanding of cancer progression and early detection.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to integrate DNA methylation data with other omics data, contributing to a holistic understanding of cancer biology.
• Stay current with advances in computational biology, DNA methylation research, and multi-omics analysis, continuously adapting and applying new techniques to ongoing research.

Key Responsibilities

• Computational Research Collaboration and Management: Collaborate with team members on developing computational research projects, employing suitable analytical methods and tools. Perform detailed data analysis, interpret results, and evaluate their alignment with shared project goals. Ensure thorough documentation of computational procedures, analyses, and findings. Maintain up-to-date knowledge in computational biology by reviewing current scientific literature. Apply innovative computational techniques as needed to support team objectives.
• Scientific Communication and Collaborative Proposal Development: Assist in preparing research findings for presentation at conferences and for publication, contributing computational insights. Participate in the development of research proposals and progress reports, integrating computational biology perspectives for team presentations and internal reviews.
• Data Organization and Team Compliance: Develop strategies to enhance data organization and project efficiency, aligning with team goals. Provide guidance on computational methods and data management practices within the team. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and assist in the preparation of necessary documentation for ethical and regulatory oversight.
• Team Integration and Collaborative Partnerships: Engage actively with academic and industry partners, contributing computational expertise to collaborative projects. Support the management of projects funded, ensuring effective communication of computational progress to external partners. Participate in teaching and knowledge-sharing activities within the team, enhancing the computational biology capabilities of colleagues.
• Protected Work Time: Protected time for non-research related CEDAR work, including time for CEDAR Council, Infrastructure, DEI, Engagement, Professional Development, etc.

Education & experience:

• Master’s degree in Computational Biology or related field  OR Bachelor’s degree in Computational Biology or related field AND 3 years of relevant experience

 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or Java.
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to process and analyze biological data.
• Basic understanding of molecular biology, genetics, or related life sciences disciplines.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problems

• 2 or more years in a research position, including at least 1 year of supervisory and project management experience
• Expertise in cancer biology
• Experience with machine learning and statistical data analysis.
• Familiarity with next-generation sequencing data analysis.
• Prior exposure to project management and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new computational methods and tools rapidly.
• Interest in contributing to the development and optimization of bioinformatics pipelines.
• Eagerness to engage in continuous learning and skill development in computational biology.

If you are driven by the challenge of making meaningful contributions to cancer research and possess the skills to analyze complex DNA methylation datasets, we encourage you to apply and join our team in pushing the boundaries of cancer detection and treatment.

 

Apply online. Please be sure to upload a Cover Letter and Resume/CV.

 

We offer a variety of benefits on top of joining a thriving organization:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage at no or low cost to employees
  • Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents
• Several retirement plans to choose from with contributions from OHSU
• 25 days a year of paid time off
• 8 days of sick time off
• Commuter subsidies
• Tuition reimbursement
• Access to group life insurance, disability insurance and other supplemental benefits
• Annual Merit Increase
• Growth/Development Opportunities
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses

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Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.