Postdoctoral Research Associate - Computational Genetics / Molecular Evolution

The Babu group seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational Genetics, Statistics, or Computational Biology to join a collaborative effort to incorporate predictions of genotype accessibility into influenza virus evolutionary predictions.

This is a joint project between the Webby and Babu Labs at St. Jude, and is fully supported by a three-year grant from The Flu Lab. St. Jude is a world leader in influenza research and surveillance. Dr Webby is the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Influenza, and a National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR). Dr Babu is a world-renowned leader in the application of data science to biological discovery. He is the Director of the Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, Chief Data Scientist, Senior Vice President for Data Science, and Director of the Office of Data Science at St. Jude. Their research programs place them at the unique and critical interface between basic research and public health.

The Babu group has recently introduced the concept of “variant accessibility,” in the Influenza A virus, developing a computational tool that predicts the likelihood of a viral genomic sequence reaching different parts of genotype space that might confer resistance to antiviral drugs or evade the human immune system (Science Advances 2023). The Postdoctoral Research Associate will expand the development of this statistical tool. Virologists on the team are measuring mutation rates from diverse influenza virus strains in laboratory-driven evolution experiments, which will be used alongside historical data to validate the predictive power of the tool. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work with virologists and structural biologists on the project to integrate mutational information with protein-level features associated with human adaptation and antigenic change to predict what currently circulating animal influenza viruses are most likely to acquire mutations associated with human infection and adaptation. This prediction tool will be supported by the development of a publicly accessible web visualization tool. It will be applied to global pandemic preparedness efforts, including the response to emerging avian and bovine H5N1 influenza viruses. Opportunities exist to interact with global public health partners, including the World Health Organization.

When submitting your application, please include your CV and a cover letter outlining how your research interests align with ours. This position requires relocation to Memphis, TN. You will work in a highly dynamic and collaborative environment and will be expected to communicate complex informatics principles, methods, analyses, and results to scientists from diverse backgrounds. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop Statistical and Machine Learning / Deep Learning Models that incorporate the principles of molecular evolution, codon usage, mutation bias, and rate for predicting evolvability

• Apply computational & statistical methods to integrate viral genomics data with structural information and develop tools to predict structural, functional, and clinical consequences of sequence variation

• Assemble raw sequencing data and metadata into consensus genomes and perform phylogenetic analyses

• Collect, organize, and maintain experimental research data and share between virologists and web developers

• Assist web developer by processing viral genomic data with Nextstrain Augur pipelines to prepare data for Auspice visualizations

• Plan and present research with passion and clarity

• Prepare high-quality manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals

• To contribute to the mission of St. Jude in the public communication of science, and the dissemination and translation of research findings into improvements in healthcare

Ranked #2 in the U.S. in Pediatric Cancer, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children and home to the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project. The St. Jude campus is a truly unique research environment, encompassing state-of-the-art HPC facilities, world-leading oncology basic research, outstanding Shared Resources and Core Facilities. The $412M Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center, which opened in 2021, will be the new home of the Babu Group and the Center of Excellence for Data Driven Discovery. There are diverse Basic Science, Translational Science and Data Science communities at St. Jude, with opportunities to interact with researchers in the Biostatistics and Computational Biology departments, and support from the Center for Applied Bioinformatics.

The Group believes strongly in providing excellent scope for career advancement to the candidate. There will be strong support and encouragement for developing mentoring abilities, "outside the box" scientific ideas, and acquiring tangential scientific/technical skills. St Jude offers a well-defined career ladder with potential for growth and advancement. Industry-competitive salaries are based on your degree and years of experience.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is consistently named as one of Fortune magazine and Glassdoor.com's "Best Places to Work," as well as "Best Workplace for Women" and "Best Workplace for Diversity." We are in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food, and culture. Mild winters and beautiful green outdoor spaces are part of the reasons why Forbes recently named Memphis the 4th happiest city in which to work. Low cost of living and high quality of life are other attractions; Money magazine listed Memphis as one of the least expensive cities in which to raise a child. St. Jude facilities and salaries are highly competitive. The Babu Group strives to build and maintain a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion and we strongly feel these values directly contribute to the dynamic and intellectually stimulating scientific environment we can provide.

Minimum Education

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree. This role requires significant experience in statistics, computational bioinformatics, genomics, and algorithm design, and an understanding of molecular biology. Applicants with a PhD in Computational Genetics, Statistics, Computational Biology, or Bioinformatics are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Experience

Proficiency in at least one programming language and environment (Python or R) is required. Experience in viral genetics is highly preferred. Experience in structural biology or machine learning methods are a plus. Successful candidates will have a strong track record, as demonstrated by publications relevant to their field.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world—regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report to learn about the hospital’s roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.