Job Summary:

The JRaviLab (PI: Dr. Janani Ravi) develops computational approaches (from evolutionary analysis to machine learning) that leverage a variety of omics data (including genomes, protein sequence-structural features, transcriptomes, and pathway memberships) to gain new and biomedically relevant insights into microbial pathogenesis and host disease mechanisms. We work closely with several experimental researchers to motivate our approaches and validate our predictions. Our group also cares deeply about reproducible research and open science, which means sharing data, code, and results rapidly and openly.

The postdoc will contribute to this vision by 1) developing new computational approaches to analyze and integrate large collections of biological data, 2) applying these approaches to study specific microbial phenotypes and diseases, and 3) communicating the methods and discoveries to the broader biomedical/clinical community.

Professional fields: Machine learning, Data science, Biomedical sciences, Microbial pathogenesis, Infectious diseases, Molecular evolution, Comparative genomics

Key Responsibilities:

      Research – 70%

•     develop new computational approaches to analyze and integrate diverse biological data (including genomics, transcriptomics, pathway/process, and drug data)
•     apply these approaches to specific problems in microbiology and infectious diseases, e.g., antimicrobial resistance, host-specificity and zoonoses, evolution of pathogenesis
•     maintain interpretable, reproducible, and well-documented codebases on GitHub that can be converted into R/Py packages and can serve as the backend of user-friendly web-apps

      Communication – 15%

•     write: communicate the methods and discoveries openly to the broader biomedical/clinical community via scientific papers and blog posts for non-experts
•     write: contribute to federal/foundational/internal grant proposals written in the group
•     present: at (inter)national conferences annually; regional meetings and at CU more often
•     engage: with members of the group regularly (and constructively)

      Mentoring and Collaboration – 10%

•      mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the group
•      liaise with programmers within and outside the group to develop open software
•      enable computational, experimental, and clinical collaborations

       Education and Outreach, DEI – 5%

•      commit to education and outreach, focusing on URMs within and outside CU
•      give occasional workshops on technical/scientific topics at relevant meetings

Why Join Us:

What Will You Get

1.    Freedom to work on your best ideas broadly aligned with the lab’s vision.

2.    Opportunities to collaborate with fantastic computational, experimental, and clinical researchers at the Dept. of Biomedical Informatics, Dept. of Immunology and Microbiology, and beyond.

3.    Resources to develop your research program and technical skills as you plan the next stage of your career.

4.    Opportunities to mentor students, participate in peer review and grant-writing, (inter)national conferences, and, based on your interests, participate in education and outreach activities.

5.    A vibrant, supportive environment: A bunch of really smart and fun colleagues at CHAI and DBMI; workspace in a contemporary open-office layout in the magnificent new Health Science building with a fabulous view of the Rocky Mountains; easy access to cafeterias; beautiful campus; supportive department environment and postdoctoral association for professional development; competitive salary commensurate with experience.

6.    Mentoring & support: In addition to being your scientific mentor, my primary responsibility is to help your personal and professional growth by facilitating all of the above. You will always find in me an audience to discuss opportunities/challenges and a strong advocate for your interests. You will also have the option to form a formal mentoring committee.

7.    An inclusive, friendly, and supportive environment for underrepresented minorities in STEM and quantitative sciences, and a safe space for members across all intersectionalities.

The University of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, tuition benefits, ECO pass, paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays and more. To see what benefits are available, please visit: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits-wellness .

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

 Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

•  A PhD or equivalent with a strong background in bioinformatics/computational biology, comparative medicine/genetics/microbiology, statistics, computer science, machine learning, or closely related fields.

Preferred Qualifications:

•       At least 2 years of programming experience in R or/and Python with version control (Git).
•       Experience with handling large datasets in a Unix/Linux environment, high-performance cluster computing is preferred.
•       Familiarity with bioinformatics databases and tools/API/CLI (with a focus on microbial genomics).
•       Data wrangling and omic data analyses experience (e.g., genomic/transcriptomic) with R/Py.
•       Machine learning or network biology experience. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•       Good communication skills (spoken and written, as corroborated by CV with peer-reviewed first author publications and oral presentations at (inter)national conferences).
•       Willingness to collaborate openly, give/take constructive feedback, and sustain a friendly, inclusive, and fun lab culture.  

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1.    A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2.    Curriculum vitae / Resume

3.    Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers .

Questions should be directed to: Michelle Fiandra at michelle.fiandra@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

 Immediately and continues until position is filled.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

$56,484 to $68,604

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu ?.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

The University of Colorado has a requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations and full completion thereof by 9/1/21 or upon start date.  Information regarding this requirement, and exemptions can be found at:

Anschutz: https://www.ucdenver.edu/docs/librariesprovider284/default-document-library/3000-general-admission/3012---covid-19-vaccination-requirement-and-compliance.pdf?sfvrsn=4e9df3ba_2

Unit-Specific Exemptions:

·         Anschutz Campus – Accommodations may be granted for medical or religious reasons.

The University of Colorado seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment. We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.