Computational Biologist - Academic Graduate Appointee

LLNL$80K — $92K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biology, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, or related field.
  • Experience with programming or scripting in Python, R, Bash, or a comparable scientific-computing language.
  • Familiarity with data visualization, dashboard development, or reporting tools.
  • Proficient verbal and written communication skills to convey technical information effectively.
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, requiring U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

  • Assist with the development of computational analytics and interactive dashboards for biosurveillance applications.
  • Analyze structured and unstructured datasets to identify trends and support scientific decision making.
  • Apply high-performance computing resources to execute established bioinformatics and statistical workflows.
  • Create clear visualizations and reports to communicate analytical results to stakeholders.
  • Present results to team members and contribute to technical reports and publications.

Benefits

  • Opportunity for contract extension for up to two years based on performance.
  • Involvement in multidisciplinary research contributing to public health and biological threat preparedness.
  • Access to high-performance computing resources for data analysis.
  • Engagement in a collaborative research environment with diverse team members.
  • Professional development through contributions to technical reports and potential publications.
Full Job Description
Job Description

NOTE: This is a one-year Academic Graduate Appointee with the possibility of extension to a maximum of two years.

We have an opening for an Academic Graduate Appointee to support the development and application of computational analytics, reproducible data workflows, and interactive dashboards for biosurveillance applications. You will contribute to multidisciplinary efforts supporting syndromic surveillance, environmental metagenomics, and related public health and biological threat preparedness applications. In this role, you will assist with computational methods and reproducible bioinformatics workflows, including the evaluation of approved artificial intelligence-enabled tools. You will work with diverse biological, environmental, clinical, and surveillance datasets to support data quality assessment, analysis, visualization, and timely scientific interpretation. You will use, with guidance, high-performance computing resources to execute scalable analyses and help develop robust, maintainable computational capabilities. Under close supervision and in accordance with established procedures, you will support analytical workflow development, perform data analysis, develop reporting tools, and communicate technical results to team members and collaborators. This position is in the Advanced Biotechnologies Integration Group in the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division within the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will
  • Assist with development of computational analytics and interactive dashboards for biosurveillance, syndromic surveillance, and environmental metagenomics applications.
  • Build, test, document, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics and data processing workflows using workflow management frameworks.
  • Analyze structured and unstructured biological, environmental, and surveillance data to identify trends, assess data quality, and support scientific decision making.
  • Assist with processing, characterization, and visualization of metagenomic sequencing data, including taxonomic, functional, and quality-control analyses.
  • Apply high-performance computing resources to execute established bioinformatics, statistical, and machine learning workloads.
  • Evaluate approved agentic tools, with guidance, to support code development, data exploration, documentation, and analytical reporting, consistent with project requirements and established computing practices.
  • Assist with development of data-ingestion, transformation, and validation processes that support reliable downstream analysis and dashboard visualization.
  • Create clear visualizations, reports, and dashboard interfaces that communicate analytical results to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
  • Assist in developing, testing, and documenting computational workflows, software tools, and analysis pipelines.
  • Present results to team members and collaborators.
  • Contribute to technical reports, presentations, and, as appropriate, draft materials supporting publications.
  • Work in a fast-paced interdisciplinary team supporting research in computational biology, bioinformatics, biosurveillance, and biological threat preparedness.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biology, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience with programming or scripting in Python, R, Bash, and/or a comparable scientific-computing language.
  • Experience or coursework involving analysis of biological, genomic, metagenomic, epidemiological, environmental, or other complex scientific datasets.
  • Familiarity with data visualization, dashboard development, or reporting tools.
  • Familiarity with Linux-based computing environments and command-line tools.
  • Ability to follow established computational workflows, troubleshoot routine analysis issues with guidance, and document methods and results.
  • Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively communicate technical information.
  • Interpersonal skills necessary to work in a collaborative research environment and interact with a diverse set of team members.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Experience with next-generation sequencing analysis, metagenomics, microbial genomics, biosurveillance, or syndromic surveillance data.
  • Experience developing reproducible workflows using tools such as Nextflow, Snakemake, WDL, or similar workflow management systems.
  • Experience using high-performance computing systems, including job schedulers such as Slurm and distributed or parallel computing environments.
  • Experience with data dashboard and visualization technologies, such as Plotly Dash, Shiny, Power BI, or JavaScript-based visualization frameworks.
  • Experience with software engineering practices, including Git-based version control, testing, code review, and technical documentation.
  • Familiarity with relational databases, APIs, biomedical informatics data formats, cloud-compatible data processing tools, and data catalog or metadata management platforms such as DataHub.
  • Familiarity with designing data-quality controls, metadata standards, and provenance-tracking approaches for scientific data workflows.

Pay Range

$6,748 - $7,718 Monthly

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a one-year Academic Graduate Appointee, open to those who have been awarded a degree at the time of the employment offer.

About LLNL

LLNL Careers

There has never been a more opportune time to join the distinguished team at LLNL—the forefront of scientific research and innovation.

Opportunities Await

LLNL offers a plethora of job opportunities aimed at fostering professional growth and innovation. Join a team where science and technology pave the way for significant contributions in global security and scientific advancement.

Embark on a Career of Innovation

At LLNL, every position contributes to a culture of innovation, leadership, and diversity. The company is committed to transforming challenges into technological triumphs through the collective expertise of its team. LLNL stands as a beacon of scientific and engineering excellence, driving forward with cutting-edge research and development.

Professional Growth and Development

LLNL is dedicated to the professional growth of its employees, offering unmatched benefits, career development programs, and diversity training. The team at LLNL thrives in an environment that values knowledge-sharing and continuous learning, supported by comprehensive leadership programs.

Internship Programs

Start with an internship at LLNL and step into a world of potential. These positions are designed to harness academic knowledge and apply it in real-world scenarios, providing a robust foundation for future career endeavors in various scientific and administrative fields.

Join a Diverse and Inclusive Team

LLNL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company believes in harnessing the power of diverse perspectives to drive innovation and solve complex problems. Employment at LLNL means being part of a team that values each member's unique skills and backgrounds.

Networking and Career Advancement

Networking at LLNL opens doors to expansive career trajectories in numerous disciplines. Employees are encouraged to connect with leaders and peers within and beyond their immediate teams to explore new ideas and career paths.

How to Apply

Discover the array of job opportunities at LLNL by searching available positions that match your skills and interests. Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience and prepare for an interview that could lead to a rewarding career at one of the most prestigious labs in the world.

Stay Informed

Keep up to date with the latest from LLNL careers by subscribing to job alert emails. Receive personalized updates that align with your career preferences and learn about new job openings, company news, and professional insights directly from the team at LLNL.

Explore LLNL Jobs

Whether looking for a role in scientific research, engineering, or support services, LLNL offers a dynamic and supportive environment to start or advance your career. Join LLNL and contribute to a team that’s reshaping the future of science and technology.

Connect with LLNL Careers

Stay connected with LLNL through various channels to learn more about the company culture, upcoming networking events, and new job opportunities. Engage with a community that’s passionate about growth, innovation, and leadership in science.

APPLY TO LLNL JOBS

READ CAREERS BLOG

JOB ALERT EMAILS

Embark on a journey of professional discovery and innovation at LLNL, where every career is a pathway to making a substantial impact.
Learn more about LLNL

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at LLNL

More Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Jobs

Find similar Computational Biologist - Academic Graduate Appointee jobs: