Job no: 519037
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Research/Scientific/Grants
Department:29180300 - MD-NEUROLOGY-MOVEMENT DISORDER

Classification Title:

Biostatistics Analyst III

Job Description:

The Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience invites applications for a Biostatistics Analyst III position. This position will oversee statistical programming and visualization for our group. They will largely be responsible for power studies, data quality review, data cleaning, database queries, exploratory and final analyses, for grant submissions and publications. The work is focused on neurologic and neurodegenerative disorders and represents an exciting career opportunity with opportunities for advanced training, primarily in human genetics and neuroscience. Datasets vary from whole genome genotyped array and sequencing analysis of brain health and neurodegeneration in population isolates such as the Faroe Islands, to the analysis and integration of mouse single nuclear RNA sequencing with light-sheet imaging data from cleared brain tissue. The Biostatistics Analyst will work with our lab lead, Shannon Wall, neuroscience graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. The position will be part of a team with Prof. Matt Farrer a neurogeneticist/neuroscientist and Principle Investigator (PI), Dr. Shannon Corrigan who runs wet-lab Molecular Genetic operations, and Jonathan Bravo who oversees Bioinformatics, although larger genetic projects are performed as team science, in collaboration with international collaborators and consortia. This is a full-time position within the University of Florida’s College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology that is physically based at the McKnight Brain Institute.

The University of Florida is a top-tier research university with $900 million of annual research funding. The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report recognizes UF among the nation's top five public universities and 28/392 in universities in the US overall. UF Health is the Southeast’s most comprehensive academic health center, unique for our diverse constellation of health Colleges, Institutes and Centers, and our hospitals, faculty practices and patient care programs. Founded in 1853, the main campus is located in Gainesville, an affordable but vibrant city, that serves as the educational hub and commercial center for North Central Florida. Gainesville is centrally located within 90 minutes of either coast and is near other major cities including Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. With mild winters and warm summers, the region is known for its nature parks and prairies, sparse pine forest and pristine beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Essential functions to include:

Develop, enhance, and maintain data infrastructure to support major data projects within the lab. Organize clinical, genetic and genomic data to perform statistical analyses for both IACUC or IRB-approved research projects in brain health and neurologic disease. Tasks will include data cleaning, quality control, error checking, interactive data visualization and reporting. Requires a working knowledge in SQL and statistical programming, R or Python. Some knowledge of human genetics, genomics, and practical experience in related statistical approaches and software packages would be advantageous. Closely work with a team of molecular geneticists, informatics and biological scientists. The work is primarily applied and requires creativity, scientific and intellectual effort and forward planning.

Contribute to tasks involved with automating the analysis of whole genome sequencing data in the context of human health and disease. Some illustrations of this innovation include:1) machine learning for improved variant calling, and; 2) multi-omics data integration and summary reporting to enhance medical genetics, to 3) local imputation, association and polygenic risk score computation for diverse ethnicities.

Seize opportunities to define and solve critical problems, to enhance and perform quantitative analyses. Liaise closely with neuroscientists, bioinformaticians and molecular genetic staff to test and deploy innovative methods in genetic epidemiology and/or neuroscience, including the application of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics etc.

Help mentor graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in analysis methods.

Expected Salary:

$70,000-$85,000

Minimum Requirements:

A Doctoral degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of related experience; or a Master’s degree in an appropriate area and five years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

The preferred candidate’s skills include:

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in epidemiology, genetics, computer science, engineering, statistics or a closely related field
• Practical experience of databases (SQL)
• Experience in statistical programming (Python, R, etc.)
• Background in quantitative biology and large data analysis
• Experience in database management and bioinformatics
• Experience in statistical analyses
• Theoretical/applied practical knowledge of human genetics, genomics and/or neuroscience
• Academic interest in applied statistical genetics and/or quantitative biology/neuroscience
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience with grantsmanship, scientific report and manuscript preparation and publication, communication of project results among the scientific community and other professionals at scientific/professional meetings and conferences

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered for this position, applicants must apply at https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/ and attach a cover letter, resume/curriculum vitae, and list of 3-5 professional references.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

This is a time-limited position.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This requisition has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not apply.

Health Assessment Required:No

Advertised: 14 Mar 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 03 Apr 2022 Eastern Daylight Time