Research Fellow (Segre)

Site: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary
Summary
Will conduct independent and collaborative research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions. The fellow will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and collaborate with a team of researchers.

Does this position require Patient Care?
No

Essential Functions
-Design, plan, and execute research experiments or projects in alignment with departmental goals.

-Gather, analyze, and interpret data using appropriate statistical methods and tools.

-Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to inform research direction and methodologies.

-Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences and seminars.

-Work collaboratively with faculty, students, and other researchers, contributing to a positive research environment.

-Mentor graduate and undergraduate students, providing guidance on research methodologies and techniques.

-Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications to support ongoing research.

-Prepare periodic reports and documents summarizing research progress and outcomes.

Qualifications

Education
Doctorate Related Field of Study required

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No

Licenses and Credentials

Experience
Previous Research experience 3-5 years required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated experience in research techniques, methods, or research areas relevant to the project.
- Proficient analytical skills, proficiency in statistical software, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Salary: $71,750.00 - $73,544.00/Annual

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Segrè laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Genomics Institute at Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE), Harvard Medical School, is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on innovative projects that combine single cell genomics, human genetics, and systems biology approaches to uncover novel causal mechanisms and pathogenic cell types for complex eye diseases, including glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, with the ultimate goal of identifying new preventative and therapeutic targets for eye disease.

The successful candidate should have a PhD in computational biology, genetics/genomics, biostatistics, computer science, or a related quantitative field, and should be interested in developing and applying novel computational and statistical methods for analyzing single cell RNA-seq, single cell ATAC-seq and whole genome sequencing data from eye tissues in combination with genome-wide association study data to gain biological insights into cell type-specific processes and regulatory mechanisms that lead to complex eye diseases. The postdoctoral fellow will have access to single nucleus RNA-seq and multi-omic data from ocular tissues aimed at characterizing the cell types and cell type-specific gene expression and genetic regulation for a range of disease-relevant eye tissues. The ideal candidate will have strong programming skills, a solid background in statistics, and experience with large-scale data analysis, and will be excited to contribute to advancing the science and medicine of eye disease. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to develop his or her own research projects and interests within this research area, and to present one’s work at local, national, and international meetings.

The Segrè lab is part of a vibrant research community of computational biologists, experimentalists and clinician scientists in the Ocular Genomics Institute at MEE, which is an international leader for treatment and research in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and is affiliated with the Medical and Population Genetics community a t the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. Being a member of our group will provide the opportunity to contribute to large collaborative efforts in the field of genomics and human disease. To learn more about the lab research directions please visit: https://www.asegrelab.org/ .

If interested, please send your CV, a cover letter describing your previous research experience and future research interests, and contact information for 3 references, to Dr. Ayellet Segrè : ayellet_segre [at] meei.harvard.edu.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES:

- Perform analysis of single cell RNA-sequencing and ATAC-seq data from anterior and posterior eye tissues to identify tissue-share and tissue-specific cell type-specific expression signatures and cell type specific gene regulation.
- Develop and apply machine learning approaches to genomic and other omics data from eye tissues to identify cell type-specific regulatory effects, genes, and pathways that may contribute to common eye diseases.
- Integrate single cell multiomic data from eye tissues and single cell eQTLs with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data to identify causal regulatory mechanisms, genes, pathways and cell types for glaucoma and other ocular diseaes.
- Organize all scripts in a publicly available repository (e.g., github) with clear documentation.
- Critically review, analyze, and communicate results to our team and collaborators, and summarize work for first author publications.
- Candidate will work both on independent and collaborative projects, and will have the opportunity to present one’s work at national and international conferences.
- The goal of this fellowship is to gain training in computational and statistical genomics of complex disease and integrative single cell omics analysis, and contribute to our understanding of the causes of eye disease.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

- MD or Ph.D. in a field related to job description required.
- Background in computational biology, (bio)statistics, statistical genetics, computer science, mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline desired.
- Strong programming skills and in-depth experience with several programming languages required, e.g. Python, R, C++; experience with Cloud Computing a plus.
- Experience with Unix/Linux environments, including shell scripting, required.
- Strong background in statistics, computational genomics, and/or machine learning desired.
- Research experience with large-scale data analysis, in particular -omics data such as next-generation sequencing, and algorithm development highly desirable.
- Motivation to contribute to genomic research of eye disease is essential.
- Demonstrates critical thinking, rigorous work, and ability to meet deadlines.
- Expected to be quick learner of new analytical approaches and capable of developing new computational methods for solving complex problems.
- Excellent publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
- Strong personal skills, and excellent organization and verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, academic environment and evolving field.

Keywords: Genomics, Single cell omics, Computational biology, Statistics, Data science

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The lab is located in the main hospital building of Mass Eye and Ear, 243 Charles Street, in a research and office work space that is part of MEE’s Ocular Genomics Institute. Due to reonvations in the building our temporary space is at 20 Staniford Street, Boston. The Postdoctoral fellow will work in an office space adjacent to other computational biologists, biostatisticians, and students in the Segrè lab and in the Bioinformatics Center of the Ocular Genomics Institute, and will be part of a larger multidisciplinary research environment, which includes geneticists, clinical scientists, and experimental biologists. There are abundant opportunities to interact with other MEE research groups and the Medical and Population Genetics community at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.

Remote Type
Onsite

Work Location
243-245 Charles Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Employee Type
Regular

Work Shift
Day (United States of America)

EEO Statement:
5110 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

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