Assistant Research Data Scientist -Data & Bioinformatics

Job Title

Assistant Research Data Scientist - Data & Bioinformatics

Agency

Texas A&M Agri Life Research

Department

Agri Life Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS)

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Texas A&M Agri Life is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Service
• Texas A&M Agri Life Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M Agri Life brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M Agri Life is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments, and the Texas economy through education, research, extension, and service.  

to learn more about how you can be a part of Agri Life and make a difference in the world!

Position Overview

The Assistant Research Data Scientist – Data & Bioinformatics is a service-focused technical expert within the Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS). This role supports researchers across disciplines by delivering outcome-based services in bioinformatics, data engineering, advanced analytics, and cloud-based research computing. Operating under CMTS’s cost-recovery service block model, the Assistant Research Data Scientist offers high-skill human capital that transforms raw data into reproducible workflows, actionable insights, and sustainable solutions.

The successful candidate will work across multiple projects to analyze next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, design scalable pipelines, integrate heterogeneous datasets, and train researchers in modern data practices.

Position Structure

This is a full-time professional position reporting to the Director of CMTS. All work is scoped and delivered under a service model, enabling equitable access to high-skill expertise. The Assistant Research Scientist – Data & Bioinformatics may support multiple projects simultaneously and will focus on delivering reproducible, interpretable, and scalable results within each engagement.

Key Responsibilities NGS and Bioinformatics Analysis

• Process raw sequencing data (quality control, alignment, assembly, variant calling).
• Apply functional annotation, gene expression analysis, and microbiome profiling.
• Deliver biological interpretations in formats suitable for publication, compliance, and grant deliverables.

Scientific Leadership & Research Enablement

• Exercise independent scientific judgment and analysis to support and enhance research projects conducted by other researchers.
• Advise investigators on experimental design, analytical approaches, and appropriate computational methods across genomics, bioinformatics, and data science.
• Translate research questions into rigorous analytical strategies, selecting methods, models, and tools aligned with scientific objectives.

Data Engineering and Cloud Analytics

• Build and optimize reproducible pipelines using Python, R, SQL, Bash, Snakemake, or Nextflow.
• Deploy workflows on HPC, institutional servers, and cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, Databricks).
• Implement FAIR‑compliant data stewardship and governance.

Applied Machine Learning and Statistics

• Apply statistical models, ML/AI methods, and predictive analytics to research datasets.
• Develop scalable analytic workflows for interdisciplinary projects across life sciences, agriculture, and environmental domains.

Consultation and Researcher Engagement

• Translate PI research goals into executable data strategies.
• Recommend tools, platforms, and analytic approaches tailored to project needs.
• Support grant proposals through data strategy input and compliance alignment.

Training and Education

• Deliver workshops, tutorials, and guides on bioinformatics, data science, and cloud workflows.
• Mentor graduate students and faculty in best practices for reproducibility and data management.
• Contribute to shared knowledge resources for institutional capacity‑building.
• Perform other…