Bioinformatics Staff Scientist at NSF-NCEMS

Position Specifics

The U.S. National Science Foundation National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences (NCEMS) and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) at Penn State seeks a qualified Bioinformatics Staff Scientist (Research Data Scientist) to advance the collaborative research of the Center’s Working Groups.

NCEMS is an interdisciplinary research Center positioned at the interface of data science with molecular and cellular biology. The Center leads integration of diverse publicly available datasets, enabling cross‑disciplinary teams to synthesize knowledge and pursue fundamental questions at the forefront of the life sciences.

Bioinformatics Staff Scientists support multidisciplinary scientific teams at NCEMS, typically contributing to 2–3 projects simultaneously.

Work Arrangement:
The position may be hybrid of remote and on‑site work, with a minimum requirement of 3 days per week on‑site at the Penn State University Park campus. Full‑remote work is not permitted.

• Collaborate with NCEMS Working Groups to design and implement computational methods for integrating, analyzing, and visualizing complex molecular and cellular biology data.
• Lead data wrangling, harmonization, standardization, and quality control of existing biological datasets, emphasizing next‑generation sequencing data.
• Develop and apply end‑to‑end data processing workflows from raw data across modern experimental modalities (e.g., RNA‑seq, scRNA‑seq, ChIP‑seq, DNA‑seq, ATAC‑seq, and Hi‑C).
• Advise on selection, development, and application of bioinformatics tools and pipelines (e.g., alignment, expression analysis, variant calling) using open and reproducible science best practices.
• Support publication of intermediate data products, code, and documentation.
• Stay current with advancements in bioinformatics, computational biology, and available biological datasets.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field (preferred).
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis, scripting, and statistical modeling.
• Demonstrated experience processing raw next‑generation sequencing data and developing end‑to‑end, reproducible analysis workflows.
• Experience with complex molecular and cellular datasets (genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, metabolomic/lipidomic, single‑cell or multi‑omics).
• Solid understanding of genetic principles, molecular biology techniques, and genomic databases.
• Experience developing new bioinformatics tools as dictated by research needs.
• Publications in peer‑reviewed journals demonstrating contributions to the field.
• Experience supporting or contributing to multi‑PI projects.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
• Cover letter detailing the candidate’s interest in the role

Penn State offers a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans; paid time off; and a 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.

The salary range for this position is $61,800.00 – $, depending on qualifications and experience.

For the Research Data Scientist – Intermediate Professional level:
Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year of relevant experience (or equivalent).
For the Advanced Professional level:
Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent). No certifications required.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.