Bioinformatics Scientist

About Us

The Laboratory for Biological Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel, Switzerland, led by Professor Randall J. Platt, is at the forefront of developing innovative technologies at the nexus of biological engineering and molecular perturbation technologies. Our mission focuses on leveraging these advancements to better understand and treat diseases.

Role Overview

We invite talented individuals to collaborate closely with Professor Platt and our research group in guiding computational efforts, contributing to existing projects, and exploring independent research aligned with our laboratory’s overarching goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in planning projects and experiments with both experimental and computational members of the laboratory.
• Develop computational methods for analyzing multi-omic datasets, including transcriptomics, metagenomics, metabolomics, and proteomics.
• Review results and interpret findings.
• Publish research results, contribute to grant writing, and engage in peer review and academic collaborations.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to trainees in computational research projects.
• Participate in departmental service, research dissemination, and educational activities.

Research Areas

The successful candidate will contribute to groundbreaking areas including:

• In Vivo Single-Cell CRISPR Perturbation Screens: Involves generating rich in vivo perturbation datasets and tackling computational challenges in scalable pipeline development.
• Transcriptome Recording and Cellular History Reconstruction: Focuses on advancing transcriptional recording methods and addressing complex environmental bioinformatics challenges.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A PhD or equivalent in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, applied statistics, or related fields, along with substantial postdoctoral experience.
• Deep methodological expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology, with the ability to design and execute innovative projects.
• A proven track record in software development, releasing well-documented computational tools for the research community.
• Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively convey complex topics to diverse audiences.
• A history of impactful publications across various platforms.
• Experience in crafting compelling grant proposals and independent contributions to the field.

Location and Environment

The position is based within the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich, a department known for its interdisciplinary focus on systems and synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and engineering sciences. The department is situated within a vibrant biomedical research hub, with strong connections to prestigious academic institutions and prominent biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Career Development

Responsibilities may fluctuate based on project priorities, with an average distribution of approximately 70% research, 20% supervision of trainees, and 10% service. The role is anticipated to be at the Established Researcher (Oberassistent) level, with potential for career progression to a permanent position, accompanied by a personalized career development plan.