Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Southern California (USC) Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in the Quantitative and Computational Biology. The Postdoctoral Scholar will join Dr. Jazlyn Mooney in the Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology. The lab’s research focuses on understanding how recessive genetic variation contributes to human disease risk and phenotypic diversity, identifiable using shared segments of the genome inherited identically-by-descent. This NIH-funded project aims to develop and apply computational and statistical approaches to identify and characterize recessive variants, including rare and compound heterozygous variation, across diverse datasets and biological systems. The lab is particularly interested in uncovering genetic architectures not well captured by standard additive models. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work directly with Dr. Mooney to develop and apply methods for analyzing large-scale genomic data, including sequencing and biobank-scale datasets. Projects may involve integrating population genetics, statistical modeling, and functional annotation to better understand recessive effects on disease. The research is organism-agnostic and may leverage human datasets as well as non-model systems, depending on the candidate’s interests and expertise. The postdoc will also have opportunities to collaborate with investigators across USC and beyond.

Requirements

• Strong interest in population genomics, statistical genetics, or related fields.
• Ph.D. (or equivalent qualification) in genetics, genomics, biostatistics, computational biology, or a related discipline.
• Highly motivated individual.
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent time management, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Resume and cover letter (describing research interests and contact information for 3 references) required.
• Minimum Education: Ph.D. or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum Experience: 0–1 year.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., R, Python, C++).
• Experience with genomic data types (VCF, PLINK, tree sequence etc.) and analysis tools.
• Familiarity with Unix-based computing environments.
• Experience working with large-scale sequencing or biobank data.
• A strong interest in developing or applying methods to study non-additive and recessive genetic effects.
• Preferred Field of Expertise: Population genetics, genomics, computational biology, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational and statistical approaches to identify and characterize recessive variants across diverse datasets and biological systems.
• Work directly with Dr. Mooney to develop and apply methods for analyzing large-scale genomic data, including sequencing and biobank-scale datasets.
• Participate in the presentation of their research.
• Participate in the writing of publications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits
• Health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network
• Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment
• Tuition benefits for staff and their family
• Free Professional Development classes
• Central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services
• Discounts to sporting and other campus events
• Reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees