Research Assistant I - Laboratory of Dr. Pallav Kosuri

SUMMARY:

As a Research Assistant I, this position will be supporting the where they will focus on computational science contributing to ongoing research in spatial transcriptomics. The primary project centers on cardiac biology, although opportunities will arise in other domains such as neuroscience and immunology. Your core duties will revolve around devising and implementing methods to analyze image and sequence data. The position is part of a team and will be trained in specific techniques and methods in order to execute research designed by Dr. Kosuri.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implements and develops software for analyzing spatial transcriptomics data, implements image analysis software for analyzing microscope images, and produces graphs and data presentations.
• Works closely with a team of scientists on cardiac biology research projects.
• Utilizes local and cloud-based computational resources to set up data analysis pipelines.
• Documents code and assists other scientists with analysis.
• Work is performed under direct supervision.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• No professional experience required.
• B.S. degree in computer science, bioinformatics, computational biology, bioengineering, mathematics, statistics, or related discipline. A minimum of 2 years of experience in a scientific role is required for consideration of a Bachelor's degree in a different discipline.
• Intermediate to advanced Python coding skills.
• Preferred - Experience working in a scientific role in a relevant field.
• Preferred - Coursework in computer science, machine learning, computer vision, image analysis, algorithms, bioinformatics, physics, statistics.
• Preferred computational skills:
  
  
  
  • DevOps - Git, Continuous integration (eg. Pytest/Unittest, Jenkins/Tox/GitHub Actions), Docs (Sphinx/Mkdocs).
  • ML tooling - High-level frameworks (eg. Keras, PyTorch Lightning, Huggingface), experiment logging (eg. WandB, Tensorboard, MLFlow)
  • Containerization (eg. Docker/Singularity, Kubernetes)
  • Single-cell bioinformatics analysis tools (ScanPy/Seurat).
  • Data visualization and GUI design.
  • Experience coding in R.
  
  
  
  

SALK VALUES:

• Integrity - Guides our moral compass and underpins our every action. We do what is right in all situations for no other reason than because it is right. We uphold honesty and ethical behavior and make good on our commitments. We understand that words and deeds matter and that integrity leads to trust.
• Community - Enables us to harness the power of our collective talents. We work together towards common goals. We recognize the importance of diversity where everyone's ideas, identities, backgrounds, and perspectives are valued and pave the paths that propel us forward. We understand our pioneering role in the broader scientific community and take pride in our efforts to have a positive impact on the world.
• Accountability - Keeps us focused, and keeps us honest. We are responsible not only for our own success, but the success of our teams and the entire Institute. We consider how the actions we take and the decisions we make in our own work may impact others.
• Respect - Creates the foundation of trust and brings out the best in us all. We value the experiences, identities, and feelings of those we work with, regardless of their position or their relationship to us. We provide feedback in a constructive manner, use appropriate language, and allow others to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of ridicule.
• Empowerment - Amplifies all voices and inspires the pursuit of greatness. We lift each other up, enabling us to grow continuously and live to our fullest potential. We support the expression of ideas, encourage self-advocacy, inspire confidence and recognize that an environment of mutual respect is critical to our collective success.

COMPETENCIES:

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

The expected pay range for this position is $18.03-$21.00 per hour. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to sit
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally required to talk or hear
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Color vision

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces diverse perspectives and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.