Post-Doctoral Fellow

Job Summary:

The mission of our lab is to reduce human suffering with biomedical data science. We achieve our mission by developing methods and software to analyze new and innovative biomedical data types, including fluorescence microscopy of cells. We apply our methods to large-scale phenotypic drug screening to identify therapeutic agents effective in a variety of diseases.

Our lab seeks a full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Fellow with a strong background in data science and machine learning. Experience with pediatric cancer and a desire to become a pediatric cancer researcher is highly desirable. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

The position is fully funded for three years and is supported by a grant made by a pediatric cancer foundation. The project will create and present The Pediatric Cancer Cell Morphology Atlas and perform over 15 large-scale phenotypic drug screens. A successful postdoc will result in high impact publications and new therapeutic directions for aggressive and high-risk pediatric cancers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze and integrate microscopy data, which involves applying publicly-available software such as sci-kit learn, pytorch, CellProfiler, and others.
• Test specific hypotheses about differences observed across different pediatric cancer subtypes using basic statistics.
• Present at monthly data analysis workstream meetings with a larger group of collaborators
• Communicate with PI regarding research updates and next step strategies.
• Collaborate with Way Lab members to coordinate different aspects of bioinformatics data processing and data analysis.
• Publish scientific manuscripts, assist with grant writing, and present work at a wide range of conferences

Work Location:

Hybrid - After an in-person only performance period, this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings

Why Join Us:

The Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), located in the magnificent new Health Science building with a fabulous view of the Rocky Mountains, provides a fantastic environment for trainees to thrive and pursue their career goals. DBMI has a dedicated team for Grants Development and Scientific Writing, to improve the quality of your grant writing skills and, as a result, your likelihood of funding.

The PI (Gregory Way) is committed to providing personalized support according to the candidate's research and career goals, including the exploration of new research ideas and collaborations. With their experience in grants writing the PIs will provide guidance and feedback on grant proposals if aligned with the candidate's goals. While this position requires a computational biology, data science and machine learning background, applicants are highly encouraged to apply even if they don't have all the preferred qualifications, since it is understood that many skills will be learned on the job. A candidate with desire to become a computational pediatric cancer researcher will be prioritized.

Additionally, the Foundation grant is supported by a diverse scientific and networking team which includes researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Jude, and The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The candidate will additionally have career advice and mentorship from this group.

The University of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, tuition benefits, ECO pass, paid time off - vacation, sick, and holidays and more. To see what benefits are available, please visit: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits-wellness.

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in computational biology, machine learning, cancer biology.
• Four years of experience with data science procedures and tools.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated track record of productivity represented by scholarly publications and open-source software.
• Experience with machine learning and associated software (sklearn, pytorch, etc.),
• Experience with data science tools (dplyr, pandas, etc.),
• Experience with visualization tools (ggplot, etc.),
• Experience with GitHub
• Experience with Microscopy analysis tools (CellProfiler, CellPose)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Desire to perform pediatric cancer research.
• Desire to grow, learn new skills, and work toward solving challenging problems.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: Gregory P. Way, gregory.way@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by May 1, 2025.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $70,000.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.