Lead Research Scientist, NGS Core

• Provides direction and coordination of the technical and administrative functions for the sequencing core.
• Ensures a quality management system (QMS) is implemented, and maintained, for all phases to include the pre-analytic, analytic, post-analytic phases of testing as well as general laboratory systems.
• Ensures systems have established acceptable performance specifications for the characteristics of accuracy, precision, analytical sensitivity, and analytical specificity.
• Oversees selection maintenance and calibration of instrumentation and equipment used to perform testing.
• Ensures policies and procedures to monitor, assess, and identify problems with analytical test methods, and when indicated that remedial and corrective actions are taken and documented.
• Ensures an approved procedure manual is available to all personnel responsible for any aspect of the process.
• Ensures on-site supervision.
• Ensures the physical plant and laboratory environmental conditions are appropriate and provide a safe environment that protects employees from physical, chemical, and biological hazards and in compliance with all federal, state and local agencies.
• Ensures quality control and quality assessment programs are established and maintained.
• Ensures test reports provide pertinent information required for interpretation and consultation is available to laboratory clients concerning reported test results.
• Responsible for the implementation of all aspects of the laboratory operation to assure the highest quality of our services, efficiency of our procedures, timely completion of projects and assignments, correct operation and maintenance of all our equipment.
• Achieves operational and service goals to deliver client projects as well as assure that the best available methods and technology are being applied to provide Targeted gene sequencing (165, etc.), Shotgun sequencing, Transcriptome sequencing, and other genomic applications.
• Develops capital and operations budgets to meet forecasted service needs in the laboratory.
• Ensures competent and sufficient number of staff to meet the dynamic service needs.
• Responsible for all human resources functions including: hiring, orientation, performance management and recognition.
• Ensures that new skill training and ongoing competency verification is completed annually.
• Maintains bench competency and skills.
• Oversees lab equipment maintenance, quality systems, implementation of new technology, optimization of procedures, monitoring of TAT and continuous improvement of the lab process.

Qualified candidates will hold a Master’s degree plus 10 years of experience or a PhD plus 7 years of experience in a related discipline. Experience must include supervising the activities of a research or studies group or unit and for planning, conducting and reporting major research investigations or studies. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.

• Six or more years of related bioinformatics experience preferred.
• Knowledge of key biological processes and NGS technology desired.
• Concrete bioinformatics skills in analysis of data from various omic platforms.
• Experience in NGS data analysis.
• Familiarity in applying statistical approaches to NGS data intepretation.
• Experience with the Illumina sequencing platform, especially MySeq and NextSeq.
• Simple programming experience writing scripts Perl or R programming languages.
• Two years of documented hands-on (wet lab) experience with NGS assay development, validation, troubleshooting, and reviewing of run QC data preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of different NGS platforms and technologies (experience with long reads sequencing is a plus).
• Familiarity with different NGS software platforms, bioinformatics pipelines and NGS data processing and interpretation solutions.
• Bioinformatics skills, programing in different languages, experience with command line, and familiarity with statistical software packages is highly desired.
• Technical expertise with other molecular technologies, including but not limited to: PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, digital PCR, NanoString, etc. is also highly desired.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, excellent leadership and people skills, and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others in a highly matrixed environment.
• Self-motivated, demonstrated ability to work independently and learn quickly.
• Goal oriented and focused on completing work on time.
• Thrive in a highly interactive, fast-paced and dynamic team environment.
• Able to quickly adapt to changing priorities and work well in fast paced environment and under pressure.
• Possess good written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Full understanding of laboratory requirements, SOPs, ICH guidelines, USP requirements and FDA guidance.
• Full knowledge of technical operating systems.
• Ability to independently optimize analytical methods.
• Ability to independently perform root cause analysis for method investigations.
• Proven ability in technical writing skills.
• Proven problem solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Time management and project management skills.
• Ability to mentor others on technical operating systems.
• Ability to independently review and understand project proposals/plans.

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.