Research Scientist

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title Research Scientist Job Category Staff & Executive

• Research (Laboratory/Non-Laboratory) Department Human Genetics Inst of NJ Overview

The Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ) has embarked on a major initiative to encourage, foster, and support research in the life sciences within Rutgers University and the greater New Jersey community. As a part of this initiative, further research will be emphasized in five major core programs. Based on the strengths and expertise of the life sciences faculty, these programs include: Brain Disorders, Cancer Genomics, Computational Genetics, Reproductive Genetics, and Stem Cells. Each program is headed by a leading expert in the area of concentration.

The mission of the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ) is to operate a world-renowned institute of excellence in human and medical genetics, to collaborate with and enhance research and training programs in the life sciences of Rutgers, and to facilitate scientific relationships with the private sector. HGINJ is comprised of prominent research scientists with specialties encompassing a broad range of topics. Areas of concentration currently include the following core programs: Brain Disorders, Cancer Genomics, Computational Genetics, Reproductive Genetics, and Stem Cells

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Research Scientist for the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey. The position is a Research Scientist for the Data Management & Curation group of the NIMH Repository and Genomics Resource (NRGR).

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Provides technical management of assigned studies and assures that research projects proceed as planned.

• Communicates and cooperates with numerous individuals to maintain involvement in all facets of the research and process development. Is accountable for major project decisions, metrics, and client satisfaction.

• Demonstrates leadership role in forming and maintaining productive working relationships internally and with external collaborators.

• Manages professional and paraprofessional staff and motivates groups to implement the strategy of the organization.

• Develops procedures for reporting and has protocol development and/or approval responsibilities. Is recognized as a subject matter expert and acts as a consultant to faculty.

• Works on curation and harmonization of genetic and phenotypic data submitted by approximately 200 NIMH-supported studies nationwide.

• Takes an active role in collaboratively building data curation protocols and processes, working with an internal team of Rutgers scientists as well as subcontractors from the Information Sciences Institute of USC and Mathematical Medicine, LLC.

• Provides critical input on workflows for efficient curation activities, including validation of received data, regularization and harmonization of validated data, and transmission of validated data to USC for integration into the NRGR data warehouse.

• Writes code using Python to automate curation steps, and works with collaborators to integrate new curation steps into automated Quality Control system.

• Responds to helpdesk tickets initiated by various end-users in a timely fashion.

• Provides direct guidance to end-users to formulate robust data dictionaries in line with data management best practices.

• Ensures data submissions successfully pass through the Automated Quality Control System as well as adhering to study-specific Data Sharing Plan terms as determined by the NIMH before data is released.

• Checks for completeness of submitted data and data dictionaries and work with depositing investigators to obtain any missing data.

• Runs existing data checks and work with internal Rutgers team to formulate additional, higher order checking routines.

• Provides technical support to staff performing clinical data harmonization work.

• Serves as technology point person for internal Rutgers team, currently managing the Network Attached Storage (NAS) system and several custom-built PCs running both Linux and Windows operating systems.

• Researches and recommends hardware upgrades for internal Rutgers team including NAS, desktops, laptops, and back-up technologies taking into account budget availability/constraints.

• Organizes and manages workflow for the Rutgers internal data curation team including new data releases, updates to previously released data, and large-scale overhauls to how data are presented and distributed to end-users.

Position Status Full Time Hours Per Week Daily Work Shift Day Work Arrangement FLSA Exempt Grade 09 Position Salary Annual Minimum Salary 120741.00 Annual Mid Range Salary 152826.00 Annual Maximum Salary 184911.00 Standard Hours 37.50 Union Description Admin Assembly (MPSC) Payroll Designation PeopleSoft Benefits

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.

Seniority Unit Terms of Appointment Staff

• 12 month Position Pension Eligibility ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in Genetics, Bioinformatics, or a related scientific specialty field.
• A minimum of five years experience and/or increasing functional responsibility in a leadership/managerial role.

Certifications/Licenses Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have strong skills in planning and organization, information integration, decision-making, and attaining results.

• Must have expert-level knowledge of the NRGR project as a whole, including work performed by the internal team at Rutgers and all subcontractors.

• Specialized knowledge of the technical aspects of behavioral genetics research including data validation and data cleaning methodologies.

• This is required because the position will be responsible for Quality Control processing of psychiatric genetic data.

• Advanced knowledge of data management and processing best practices.

• Mastery of genetic linkage analysis, association analysis, and next-generation sequence analysis, including all associated standard data cleaning procedures. This is required because the position must be able to analyze and replicate published results from the scientific literature generated by submitting investigators in order to identify and troubleshoot any inconsistencies in the data submitted to the repository.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with psychiatric genetics of complex disorders.

• Experience with SQL and/or additional database software is preferred.

• Good Laboratory Practice certifications and other training records that demonstrate capability of conducting and providing oversight to regulatory research.

Equipment Utilized

• Mastery of the programming language Python.

• Experience using GitHub or similar version control software.

• Mastery of standard genetic analysis software including LINKAGE, PLINK, Eigenstrat, and the GATK sequence analysis pipeline.

• Must be experienced with working in the Linux environment in general and specifically on large Linux research computational clusters.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• The position will be working in an office setting.

Special Conditions

Posting Details

Posting Number 24ST2231 Posting Open Date 09/19/2024 Special Instructions to Applicants Regional Campus Rutgers University-New Brunswick Home Location Campus Busch (RU-New Brunswick) City Piscataway State NJ Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Do you have a Ph.D. in Genetics, Bioinformatics, or a related scientific specialty field?

• Yes

• No

• Do you have a minimum of five years experience and/or increasing functional responsibility in a leadership/managerial role?

• Yes

• No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/CV

Optional Documents