HMS - Research Associate in SBGrid, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular

Job Title

HMS - Research Associate in SBGrid, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

Harvard Medical School

Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

We invite applications for a Research Associate position in SBGrid at Harvard Medical School. This annually appointed academic role advances discovery in structural biology by curating, validating, and benchmarking the software that underpins structure determination. You will collaborate with investigators and SBGrid engineers to design scientifically grounded tests, codify reproducible environments, and drive community standards, leveraging Python and shell scripting to automate builds, packaging, and CI/CD.

You will contribute to methods, training, and publications that strengthen computational rigor across cryo‑EM, crystallography, NMR, and related modalities.

• Collaborate with investigators and SBGrid engineers to design scientifically grounded tests.
• Codify reproducible environments and drive community standards.
• Leverage Python and shell scripting to automate builds, packaging, and CI/CD.
• Contribute to methods, training, and publications that strengthen computational rigor across cryo‑EM, crystallography, NMR, and related modalities.
• Maintain and update the SBGrid platform, including capsule software execution environment and modular installation manager.

• PhD‑trained structural biologist with 2+ years of hands‑on experience in CryoEM workflows and analysis.
• 3 years of experience working in Unix‑like environments (Linux/macOS) and command line.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven effectiveness in cross‑functional collaboration and project management.
• Demonstrated programming proficiency in Python and strong scripting skills (Bash/shell).
• Hands‑on experience with structure determination software supporting X‑ray crystallography and cryo‑electron tomography (CryoET).
• Familiarity with molecular dynamics simulations and macromolecular docking tools is highly desirable.
• Packaging and environment management (Conda/venv); containers (Docker/Singularity); CI/CD; build systems (CMake); version control (Git).
• High‑Performance Computing schedulers (e.g., Slurm); cloud familiarity.
• Bonus: experience with compiled/scientific languages (C/C++/Fortran/Julia/R) and pipeline hardening/optimizing.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Names and contact information for three references (Upload as “Note” document type)

$80,000–$115,000, commensurate with experience

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non‑discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non‑discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Piotr Sliz
250 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA 02115