Computational Biologist
- Employer
- University of Massachusetts Medical School
- Location
- 55 Lake Ave N
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- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Computational Biologist be part of an interdisciplinary research group combining systems biology, immunology, and human genetics to uncover the mechanisms that drive autoimmune disease. The lab leads large-scale efforts such as the VIGOR family-based vitiligo cohort (vigor.umassmed.edu) and multi-omic studies of lupus and cutaneous autoimmunity, integrating data across molecular, cellular, and clinical scales.
This position will bridge two complementary areas of research:
The ideal candidate combines strong computational and statistical skills with a biological curiosity about how genetic and environmental factors jointly shape immune dysregulation.
ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities
- Process, analyze, and interpret large-scale datasets including bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, proteomics, and spatial transcriptomics.
- Develop new analysis methods as needed and as they arise during investigations
- Perform clustering, trajectory inference, and regulatory network reconstruction to define immune cell states and pathways relevant to autoimmune pathogenesis.
- Work closely with clinicians, immunologists, and experimentalists to formulate biologically grounded hypotheses and computational analyses.
- Integrate genetic, molecular, and clinical features to identify mediators linking genotype to phenotype using mediation and causal inference frameworks (e.g., Bayesian networks).
- Combine data from wearable sensors (e.g., Fitbit activity, sleep, heart rate), clinical surveys, and biomarker measurements to model temporal dynamics of disease activity.
- Present findings in lab meetings, consortium calls, and scientific conferences; contribute to manuscripts and grant proposals.
- Generate publication-quality figures and interactive visualizations that communicate complex data intuitively.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Genetics, Statistics, Physics, Math or a related quantitative field; Ph.D. strongly preferred.
- 1-3 years of related experience
- Strong proficiency in R or Python, statistical modeling, and data visualization.
- Strong understanding of linear models, mixed-effect models, and in general machine learning approaches to complex datasets.
- Experience working in Unix/Linux environments and using HPC or cloud-based computational resources.
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in human genetics or clinical genomics, including genotype imputation, association testing, and fine-mapping.
- Experience with integrative or multi-omic data analysis and familiarity with single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data.
- Knowledge of causal inference, longitudinal modeling, or Bayesian hierarchical modeling.
- Exposure to wearable-device or digital-phenotyping datasets and experience linking such data to molecular or clinical outcomes.
- Understanding of immunology or autoimmune disease biology.
- Familiarity with containerization (Docker/Singularity), workflow management systems (Snakemake, Nextflow), and reproducible-research practices.
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Organization
Realize Your Opportunities – A Career at UMASS Medical School
Inside Workings at UMASS Medical School
The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), the Commonwealth's only public medical school, is proud of our role in serving the people of Massachusetts. Although, its the inside workings of UMMS that makes the difference.
Mission and Culture
- We’re serious about our mission and about our people.
- Real World Impact - Our people get excited about our mission of real-world impact in health sciences education, research and public service.
- International Prominence and New Opportunities - As this institution has grown to national – and international – prominence, we’ve found new opportunities to train tomorrow’s physicians, nurses and scientists, discover causes of and cures for disease and help improve the quality of health care.
- Deep Commitment - With our clinical partner, UMass Memorial Health Care, and our other teaching affiliates, we share a deep commitment to national distinction in patient care.
- Valued Partnerships – UMMS partners with Commonwealth Medicine, the health care consulting arm of UMMS. Also, UMMS partners with MassBiologics in scientific collaborations, technology management and creating partnerships for the development of products for the benefit of patients. These valued partnerships help us to provide services and programs to help meet our needs at UMMS and the public.
- Proud Contributors - People at UMMS enjoy the feeling of going to work every day knowing what they do is truly important and worthwhile.
- Complementary and Inseparable - These varied parts of our mission and culture are complementary and inseparable.
Careers
UMMS, the state’s first and only public academic health sciences center, educates physicians, scientists and advanced practice nurses to heal, discover, teach and care, with compassion. UMMS is a world-class institution with opportunities to match. 
Competitive Compensation – UMMS offers salaries that are competitive with Worcester-area employers. When combined with our generous benefits, perks, and paid time off, many job seekers are surprised to find a total rewards package that matches or exceeds their current situation.
Targeted Hiring Process – At UMMS, there are actually multiple hiring processes for different segments of our workforce. In nearly all cases, UMMS hiring process is decentralized, with qualified candidates screened and referred to an academic officer or manager with hiring authority.
24/7 Access to Employment Opportunities – iCIMS is our online job search and application system. iCIMS is available 24/7 to provide you with a convenient and up-to-date view of the available employment opportunities across our campuses. Updates are made daily and include all faculty and non-faculty position listings from every school and department within the UMMS. When you identify a position you are interested in and qualified for, apply online. New opportunities become available frequently so it pays to check back often!
Benefits
With outstanding benefits, competitive pay, extensive learning opportunities, and a stimulating and attractive work environment, UMMS may be exactly the employer you’ve been looking for.
• Superior Benefits - UMMS offers a wide range of benefits and perks that invite comparison with the best employers in the Worcester area – and with academic institutions anywhere. UMMS provides superior medical and dental coverage for you and your family, fully funded retirement plans, generous time off, a Tuition Assistance Plan – and much more.
• People Centered - UMMS is an employer, but it is also a community. Its comprehensive medical and dental benefits, retirement plans, and even paid holidays reflect an institution built around people, with a deep respect for their differences and needs.
• Commitment to Healthy Living - UMMS provides resources to help you balance work and life and encourages healthy living through great programs and discounts for fitness, physical activity, weight management, nutritional counseling and general wellness available through our health insurance plans.
• Breadth of Offerings - Above all, the breadth of UMMS offerings set the School apart and makes it an environment favored by all sorts of smart, career-savvy people.
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As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMMS recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.
Online - To view all job opportunities and apply online, visit www.umassmed.edu/hr and click on the “Careers” tab.
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A History of Making Vital Improvements - UMASS Medical School Milestones
1962: Legislation establishes University of Massachusetts Medical School
1970: First medical students begin classes in Shaw Building
1974: First class graduates 16 MDs
1979: PhD program begins
1986: Graduate School of Nursing opens
1986: PhD program becomes Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
1994: Graduate School of Nursing initiates PhD program
1998: UMass Clinical System and Memorial Health Care merge to form UMass Memorial Health Care
2001: Lazare Research Building opens
2002: Campus Modernization begins on the University Campus
2004: Graduate Entry Pathway Program established at the Graduate School of Nursing
2005: PhD Program in Clinical & Population Health Research established at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2005: Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories opens new manufacturing and filling facility in Mattapan
2006: Craig Mello, PhD, Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, is awarded the Medical School's first Nobel Prize. Dr. Mello shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Andrew Fire, PhD, of Stanford University, for their discoveries related to RNA interference.
2007: Michael F. Collins, MD, is named chancellor and Terence R. Flotte, MD, is named dean of the School of Medicine.
2009: Groundbreaking for the Albert Sherman Center, a 500,000-square-foot research and education facility slated for completion in 2012.
2010: Ambulatory Care Center opens
2012: The Albert Sherman Center, a 500,000-square-foot research and education facility, completed and opens
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