The Technology Innovation Lab at the New York Genome Center seeks a dynamic, self-motivated, team-oriented molecular biologist to expand wet lab efforts in understanding disease mechanisms. We are interested in developing integrative multi-modal data analysis tools incorporating single cell omics data, imaging data, clinical phenotypes, variants and genotypes.

We are looking for a molecular biologist or bioengineer to join our team, lead the development and application of new molecular biology approaches in single cell multi-omics, and to coordinate experimental work across the lab.

As Senior Scientist, you will be a critical member of a collaborative team that develops cutting edge single cell methods and technologies in order to understand the mechanisms of neuroimmunology, cancer immunology and aging, in an efficient and comprehensive manner, which will accelerate the advancement of clinical therapeutic hypotheses. The primary purpose of this role is to identify unmet needs in the genome technology space and work with the team to develop technologies to address them.

The Senior Scientist within the Technology Innovation Lab will supervise a diverse interdisciplinary team and will extensively interface with other labs and departments, including faculty labs, production and methods development, business development, legal, and communications. This position reports directly to the Director of the Innovation Technology Lab.

Responsibilities may include:

• Identifies unmet needs in genomics and designs new approaches to address them.
• Leads at least two projects, with oversight from management.
• Publishes novel research papers as co-author or first author
• Presents current research through high-impact journals, posters and presentations.
• Independently designs, develops and executes research projects which he/she coordinates with the Director of Technology Innovation for strategic input.
• Actively works to apply newly developed technologies to collaborations with leading scientists and engineers internally and externally.
• Supports collaborations with technology providers and provides expertise on applications within NYGC and in the wider community.
• Participate in grant administration, monitoring expenditures, and the drafting of new proposals.
• May have coordination and/or supervisory responsibility for technical staff (training, guidance, hiring and termination).

Requirements & Qualifications

• Relevant PhD degree required, with a strong bioengineering and/or molecular biology focus.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of modern molecular biology and/or chemistry tools required, including next-generation sequencing methods; single-cell and spatial genomics.
• A proven track record in innovation and technology development required.
• Ability to work in an independent manner with minimal supervision but having a strong collaborative personality required;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work efficiently in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment required.
• Strong research, problem solving, and communication skills (both written and oral) required, coupled with a strong attention to detail and scientific curiosity.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills required.
• Computing skills with NGS and imaging data required, and bioinformatics experience preferred.
• Work closely with computational colleagues and cores to understand the nature of generated data;
• Coordinate efforts across multiple organizations (Columbia University and New York Genome Center);
• Actively participate in the preparation of manuscripts for publication and present at scientific conferences;
• Assist in peer- and student-mentorship; and
• Share expertise and provide training and guidance to group members as needed.

Position Requirements:

• A minimum of a Ph.D. in molecular or cell biology, or related discipline required;
• 5+ years of postdoctoral training required;
• In-depth conceptual or technical understanding of modern high-throughput molecular technologies in the life sciences (scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR-Cas) required;
• Strong oral and written communication, data documentation, and presentation skills required;
• Experience writing scientific articles for publication required;
• Ability to handle multiple projects at the same time required; and,
• Excellent collaborative and interpersonal skills, and willingness to work in a fast-paced team environment required.

Competencies:

• Technical and Professional Skills: Consistently demonstrates skills and knowledge relevant for current role; strives to expand the depth and breadth of technical and professional skills; works with a high level of integrity; exhibits focus and discipline; appropriately prioritizes, manages expectations and delivers on commitments.
• Collaborative & Communicative: Models collaboration and teamwork; brings out the best in others; effectively works with all levels, internally and externally; respects and embraces diversity of perspective; communicates clearly and listens carefully; uses good judgment as to what to communicate and when to do so.
• Adaptable & Innovative: Adaptable and embraces change; develops new insights and pursues improvements and efficiency; fosters exchange of new ideas and willing to challenge the status quo; takes initiative and is solution-oriented; engages in work with passion and curiosity.

Salary

The pay range for this position is $110k-140k per year; base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, NYGC offers a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits as well as generous time off.

About the Technology Innovation Lab

The Technology Innovation Lab at the New York Genome Center (NYGC) is led by Dr. Sanja Vickovic, who holds a joint faculty appointment in Columbia University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. The Technology Innovation lab is a dedicated incubator for the development and early-stage evaluation of new genomics tools and methodologies. It serves as a creative hub for generating new technologies, protocol development, equipment evaluation and informatics tool development/integration. Although the focus of the lab is constantly evolving due to the fast-paced advancement of genomic technologies, it is committed to developing technologies with the potential to advance research for the wider scientific community, including the recent advancements listed below. A few examples of current and past areas of research include: Spatial Transcriptomics and Spatial Multi-Omics, ECCITE-seq, Cell Hashing and CITE-seq.

About the New York Genome Center

The New York Genome Center (NYGC) is an independent, nonprofit, academic research organization dedicated to advancing genomic research. NYGC scientists and staff are furthering new approaches to diagnosing and treating neurological diseases and cancer through their unique capabilities in whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, state-of-the art analytics, and the development of genomic tools. NYGC concentrates specifically on disease-based research in the following areas: neuropsychiatric disease (autism, schizophrenia, bipolar); neurodegenerative disease (ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s), and cancer.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the New York Genome Center was founded by and remains closely affiliated with the leading academic medical centers and research universities in the New York region, engaging in research projects with and for these institutions. Essential to our collaborative work is an outstanding faculty, whose members typically hold a joint appointment at NYGC and a partner university. They support our scientific mission by conducting independent research in areas of mutual interest to us and the wider scientific community.

Please note: We care greatly about our employees’ wellbeing, so NYGC has moved to a fully COVID-19 vaccinated work environment. You must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to work at NYGC, even if you are working partially remotely. If you are selected to interview for this role, we will explain our vaccination policy (including medical and religious exemptions) and ensure you are comfortable moving forward with further interviews.

Equal Opportunity

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the core mission at the NYGC. We strive to create a workplace environment that is welcoming and fair to all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, or religion. We believe that when people of various backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives work together in an inclusive and equitable environment we gain new and valuable perspectives that otherwise would have been missed. Valuing and supporting all NYGC employees as individuals while helping them realize their full potential is critical to promoting greater collaboration, innovation, and discovery – fostering a sense of belonging for our greatest strength, our people. We recognize that there is still work to be done that will require sustained commitment from the entire organization.

The New York Genome Center is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic predisposition or carrier status, protected veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, partnership status, caregiver status, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The New York Genome Center takes affirmative action in support of its policy to hire and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 

FLSA Status – Exempt

This position is eligible for visa sponsorship and relocation assistance.