Opportunity Details
Department of Genetics
Research
Commensurate w/Experience
Founding Director, Cancer Bioinformatics Shared Resource
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center (SCC) at Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) seeks an impactful scientist and collaborative leader to serve as the Founding Director of the Cancer Bioinformatics Shared Resource (CBSR). The Director will hold a faculty appointment within the Department of Genetics and will have the unique opportunity to recruit, develop, and lead a new team of bioinformaticians for cancer research. The CBSR will provide service, collaboration, and training in cancer bioinformatics for members of the SCC within the School of Medicine, which currently ranks second in the nation in NIH funding.
The Director will be entrusted with the CBSR’s mission—to empower the cancer scientific community with cutting-edge bioinformatic approaches and expertise to interrogate large multimodal oncology datasets. The CBSR will assist Siteman investigators in designing and performing multi-omics-based projects focused on improving cancer treatments and outcomes.
The Director will recruit and mentor a diverse staff of bioinformaticians and computer scientists. With support from the SCC Senior Leadership and the Department of Genetics administration, the Director will manage personnel recruitment and govern CBSR revenue for operations and future growth. Globally, the Director will create and support a vision for this interactive, technology-forward, innovative, and service-orientated bioinformatic resource. In doing so, the Director will collaborate with Directors of other Shared Resources, centers, and investigators to further empower cancer research at SCC.
The CBSR will occupy space near the Genome Technology Access Center and the Center for Translational Bioinformatics. This will facilitate synergy between CBSR and the large computational and informatic efforts at both Centers, including interdisciplinary and integrative multi-omic combinations of cancer genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, functional genomics, and imaging.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities- Recruit, lead, and manage a team of bioinformaticians who provide cancer center members with robust, innovative analyses of large and diverse types of cancer data.
- The CBSR will analyze and integrate public cancer data (e.g., TCGA, Depmap, CPTAC) with project-specific data types from cancer center members. Adherence to rigorous statistical analyses will be a guiding principle.
- Develop and implement various computational and database solutions to meet data collection, quality control, analysis, and visualization needs.
- The CBSR will supervise local database construction and structure, including updating, validating, curating, and harmonizing longitudinal, cross-sectional data from different sources.
- Lead the response to data and analytical queries from Principal Investigators, preparing and presenting reports and technical presentations for grant submissions, manuscripts, and conference presentations.
- PhD in Oncological Sciences, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistical Genetics, Biostatistics, Medical Statistics, Genetics, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
- A minimum of 7 years of experience in bioinformatics, with experience in pipeline development and software implementation for genomics and multi-omics analyses.
- Ability to perform genomics and transcriptomics analyses with integrative analyses extending to publicly available data (e.g., TCGA, CPTAC, depmap).
- Expertise in scientific programming languages (e.g., R, Python, Perl, Julia).
- Administrative leadership experience in hiring, managing, and developing a technical team.
Successful track record in project and pipeline design and consultation for collaborators.
Experience with clinically related bioinformatic processes and data.
Interest and experience in developing novel methods to be applied in a cancer research setting is highly desired. - Ability to effectively communicate project progress, write technical summaries, prepare presentations, and participate in publications and grant writing.
- Strong interpersonal skills that empower leadership and mentorship.
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center (SCC) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) is an international leader in cancer treatment, research, prevention, education, and community outreach. It is the only cancer center in Missouri and southern Illinois to hold the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation and “Exceptional” rating from the National Cancer Institute and membership in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
SCC offers the expertise of 600 WashU Medicine research scientists and physicians who provide care for 75,000 people a year, including 12,000 newly diagnosed patients. The scientists and physicians at Siteman hold more than $180 million annually in basic and clinical oncology research grants. The results of basic laboratory research are rapidly incorporated into treatment advances, which are enhanced by patient access to 700 therapeutic clinical trials, including many collaborative efforts with other leading cancer centers throughout the country. In addition to treatment and research programs, Siteman pursues an active outreach program of cancer screening and education that involves tens of thousands of individuals annually throughout the St. Louis region.
Nancy Donohoo
2/17/2025
No end date
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. It is the university’s policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. Washington University seeks an exceptionally qualified and diverse faculty; women, minorities, protected veterans and candidates with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.