Overview

Lynker Corporation, in partnership with TechGlobal, is seeking a Bioinformaticist to support NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), Marine Mammal and Turtle Division (MMTD). This proposed role will conduct and support bioinformatics research, genomic data analysis, molecular technique development, data visualization, reporting, and collaboration across SEFSC and NMFS research programs. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award.

Background paragraph:

SEFSC MMTD conducts bioinformatic studies to analyze complex genomics datasets for multiple taxa to understand population structure and dynamics driven by evolutionary, ecological, and environmental changes. The work supports marine mammal and turtle science, fisheries management, conservation of anadromous and marine organisms, and participation in a NMFS Omics network of bioinformaticists and Omics specialists.

Responsibilities Duties of the Bioinformaticist will include the following:

• Conduct and support research to improve laboratory and data analysis techniques that help understand distribution and abundance of marine and anadromous species.
• Support research that improves fishery management and conservation of anadromous and marine organisms at SEFSC within MMTD and across multiple divisions.
• Perform research developing, refining, and using molecular techniques to investigate marine and anadromous species.
• Participate in laboratory, field, and statistical projects and contribute substantively to research on molecular techniques for fisheries management, including eDNA.
• Analyze existing and future genomic datasets and facilitate project lead analysis, including development and testing of tools as needed.
• Conduct data analysis that may include RADseq analysis, WGS to variant calling, population genomics, landscape genetic analysis, source-sink dynamics, CKMR, metabarcoding bioinformatics analysis in marine fish and mammal species, and eDNA data analysis.
• Use statistical and computational approaches to assess data and results that influence fisheries management and conservation of marine and anadromous taxa.
• Continue development of robust data management planning and execution to meet Public Access to Research Results Act requirements.
• Work closely with the program manager to identify research priorities and conduct project management to ensure data is delivered efficiently and accurately.
• Construct deadlines and ensure deadlines are met or adjusted accordingly.
• Manage laboratory approaches, including assisting with purchasing and inventory and training new employees.
• Occasionally participate in collection and analysis of data on anadromous or marine organisms.
• Establish and nurture effective partnerships with internal and external scientists and resource managers from NOAA offices, Federal and State agencies, academic institutions, and international institutions.
• Collaborate with internal and external groups to share information and meet common objectives.
• Prepare management reports, information products, and presentations for general and technical audiences.
• Participate in publishing research in scientific journals as lead or co-author.
• Assist with reports, papers, presentations, or briefs on marine or fisheries-related information.
• Attend planning and coordination meetings with MMTD researchers, either virtually or in person.

Qualifications The Bioinformaticist should have the following:

• MS degree or higher in Marine Science, Biology, Oceanography, Ecology, Statistics, or a related field of study; or BS degree in Marine Science or a related field of study plus five years of relevant experience.
• Ability to go to sea, generally for less than one week.
• Ability to lead a small team.
• Bioinformatics expertise.
• Ability to present and publish to peer-review audiences and journals.
• Experience with Next-Generation Sequencing data analysis, including RNA-seq, exome-seq, whole-genome and targeted sequencing, and methylation analysis.
• Strong knowledge of R/Bioconductor, Python, and other programming languages used in data science and bioinformatics.
• Experience with data visualization tools/libraries such as ggplot, heatmaps, or dimension reduction techniques.
• Proficiency in scripting languages, including Python and R.
• Knowledge of software engineering best practices.
• Working knowledge of marine mammal or marine science research activities.

Work Environment

This task will be based at a SEFSC laboratory in Miami, FL; Beaufort, NC; or Pascagoula, MS. The role may require the ability to go to sea, generally for less than one week. Facility access is from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for tasks requiring facility access. Work shall be performed during normal facility operating hours, five days per week, not to exceed 40 hours per week except when overtime is approved in advance.

Travel is anticipated and authorized for this task order, subject to COR approval prior to travel. Travel may include fieldwork to collect biological and environmental data from different surveys and/or platforms, including aerial, ship, or unmanned systems; fieldwork in support of MMTD marine mammal and turtle research and outreach; and participation in meetings, workshops, conferences, and prescribed training.