Bioinformatics Research Associate – Assay Development (Full Time)
Position Overview:
StageZero Life Sciences is seeking a Bioinformatics Research Associate to work with our diagnostic assay development team to develop Next Generation Sequencing-based diagnostic assays in the cancer space. The candidate must have experience in implementing analytical pipelines, data QC, computational analysis and interpretation of clinical data generated from NGS platforms with an emphasis on RNA-Seq and DNA variant detection. The successful candidate will play a key role in the development of NGS assays from concept to commercialization, including algorithm development and results reporting, as well as validating, troubleshooting and maintaining assay pipelines in compliance with regulatory standards.
About StageZero Life Sciences:
StageZero Life Sciences is dedicated to the early detection of cancer and multiple disease states through our suite of blood-based diagnostic assays. As early pioneers in liquid biopsies, we developed one of the first blood-based biomarker tests for the early identification of Colorectal Cancer, ColonSentry®, and our next-generation pan-cancer test, Aristotle®, for simultaneously detecting signatures of 10 different cancers from a blood sample. These assays are based on our proprietary Sentinel Principle technology, the scientific concept that the circulating blood reflects, in a detectable way, what is occurring throughout the body. We continue to pursue the development of novel diagnostics assays using the Sentinel Principle to address unmet needs in early cancer detection and precision medicine.
StageZero Life Sciences operates a CLIA-certified and CAP accredited clinical reference lab based in Richmond, Virginia that offers our full suite of diagnostic tests. We have also recently initiated a partnership with Care Oncology Group which will offer a patient-driven, personalized care model to help reduce the risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases. Through early interventions delivered using our proprietary advanced diagnostics and physician supervised telehealth oversight, patients will be able to take control over their health and their future.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Requirements and Qualifications:
Only candidate selected for an interview will be contacted.
StageZero Life Sciences is seeking a Bioinformatics Research Associate to work with our diagnostic assay development team to develop Next Generation Sequencing-based diagnostic assays in the cancer space. The candidate must have experience in implementing analytical pipelines, data QC, computational analysis and interpretation of clinical data generated from NGS platforms with an emphasis on RNA-Seq and DNA variant detection. The successful candidate will play a key role in the development of NGS assays from concept to commercialization, including algorithm development and results reporting, as well as validating, troubleshooting and maintaining assay pipelines in compliance with regulatory standards.
About StageZero Life Sciences:
StageZero Life Sciences is dedicated to the early detection of cancer and multiple disease states through our suite of blood-based diagnostic assays. As early pioneers in liquid biopsies, we developed one of the first blood-based biomarker tests for the early identification of Colorectal Cancer, ColonSentry®, and our next-generation pan-cancer test, Aristotle®, for simultaneously detecting signatures of 10 different cancers from a blood sample. These assays are based on our proprietary Sentinel Principle technology, the scientific concept that the circulating blood reflects, in a detectable way, what is occurring throughout the body. We continue to pursue the development of novel diagnostics assays using the Sentinel Principle to address unmet needs in early cancer detection and precision medicine.
StageZero Life Sciences operates a CLIA-certified and CAP accredited clinical reference lab based in Richmond, Virginia that offers our full suite of diagnostic tests. We have also recently initiated a partnership with Care Oncology Group which will offer a patient-driven, personalized care model to help reduce the risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases. Through early interventions delivered using our proprietary advanced diagnostics and physician supervised telehealth oversight, patients will be able to take control over their health and their future.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Implement and execute data processing workflows and automated analytic pipelines for high throughput sequencing datasets using a combination of current methods, such as those available in R and Python.
- Use computational/machine learning methods to analyze large-scale sequencing data and formulate/evaluate quantitative models.
- Conduct various statistical analyses to discover relationships between genetic variations/alterations and clinical outcomes.
- Interpret NGS data and explain the results in research discussion.
- Prepare SOPs, document source code/workflows and write reports as required for all stages of the development process from computational requirements to reporting results.
- Assist in writing SOPs and other technical materials to support assay development.
- Perform complex troubleshooting and assist in leading initiatives to solve problems with NGS assays or instrumentation.
- Participate in the design and development of automated, high-throughput next generation sequencing-based tests from concept through commercial launch.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements and Qualifications:
- M.Sc. degree in Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics or a related discipline with over 1 year of relevant experience. A B.Sc. degree in the relevant discipline with additional applicable experience will also be considered.
- Expertise in the analysis of large “omics” data sets (e.g., RNA-seq, whole genome/exome) and clinical data sets with advanced knowledge of NGS platforms, datatypes (e.g., FASTQ, BAM, VCF, MAF), public annotation databases and analysis tools.
- Proficiency in Unix/Linux, running/scripting applications from the command line and coding experience with Python and R or other relevant languages used in machine learning and bioinformatics.
- Proficiency with utilizing and evaluating open source bioinformatic software and independently developing data-processing pipelines for analysis of large-scale next-generation sequencing datasets (e.g., whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, RNA-seq, variant calling).
- Experience with the storage of sequencing data, databases and clinical NGS diagnostic data.
- Good understanding of inferential statistics and designing, training, debugging, and evaluating machine learning models, such as boosting ensemble methods (e.g., logitBoost).
- Familiarity with data standards to process and analyze next-generation sequencing data.
- Familiarity with software development best practices (e.g., unit testing, version control/Git)
- Familiarity with genetics or molecular biology techniques including DNA and RNA library preparation, target amplification and NGS.
- Knowledge of HIPAA and laboratory SOPs, regulatory and safety procedures.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Prior experience within a CLIA/CAP regulated environment is an asset.
Only candidate selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to hr@stagezerols.com
StageZero Life Sciences, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/assignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.
