Stanford University Department of Genetics has an excellent opportunity available for a candidate interested in single-cell genomics and big data management as a part of the Lattice team, coordinating data for the Human Cell Atlas (HCA).
The HCA is a worldwide effort to characterize all human cell types using high-throughput, high-resolution technologies, including single-cell genomics and imaging assays. As the data generated by HCA researchers rapidly increases, computational biologists are beginning to integrate data to form reference maps of the human body, which will make fundamental contributions to our understanding of human biology, disease, and treatments.
One of Lattice’s core responsibilities is to lead the curation of data for CELLxGENE Discover (cellxgene.cziscience.com), a visualization and analysis platform for single-cell data developed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). The Lattice team, along with computational biologists and software developers at CZI, sets requirements for data hosted at CELLxGENE and collaborates with researchers to populate the CELLxGENE data corpus.
The Data Wrangler will join a small team of Ph.D. biologists, computational biologists, and experienced database managers in the Cherry Lab, and will work closely with external researcher and software developer colleagues. In order to ensure CELLxGENE data are formatted in an interoperable manner, the successful candidate will remain current on single-cell bioinformatics tools by interacting with data integrators in the community, attending scientific conferences and workshops, staying current on published research, and through hands-on pipeline execution. They will distill learnings into data resource requirements and features that will improve the usability of data to researchers worldwide.
We look forward to adding a motivated Data Wrangler to be a valued contributor towards our mission as a part of this ground-breaking project.
Duties include:
- Identify and acquire new data for inclusion in the database; collaborate with other labs for the purpose of gathering more information to be included in the database.
- Review submissions to the database for quality and relevancy; abstract information in the required formats.
- Write papers drawing from information submitted to the database.
- Work with users to determine ways of using the information in the database, which may include the development of new user interfaces; work with developers to translate the needs of the users into new functionality.
- Promote the database to researchers as a tool to be used in their research and as a way to gather more content.
- Identify new functionality and user interfaces that would enhance the use of the database.
- Compile and create educated summaries of the literature, discovering new facts by analyzing the collected data.
- Participate in presentations and demonstrations of the database at conferences or other institutions.
- Collect and analyze information from peer-reviewed scientific journals and through direct submissions; abstract data into the required format, and verify them for accuracy.
* – Other duties may also be assigned.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):
Master’s degree in scientific field and three years of relevant experience or combination of relevant experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):
- Strong analytical skills.
- Ability to learn and utilize relational databases, data integration, and statistics.
- Strong written and oral English communication skills.
- Computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
- Ability to understand scientific literature, experimental procedures and their limitations, and current needs of the research community.
CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:
None.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:
Frequently perform desk based computer tasks, seated work and use light/ fine grasping. Occasionally stand, walk, and write by hand, lift, carry, push pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
* – Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- May work extended or non-standard hours based on project or business needs. Occasional local travel may be required.
- Some work may be performed in a laboratory setting.
WORK STANDARDS (from JDL):
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
The expected pay range for this position is $92,000 to $125,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.