Senior Research Scientist - Tan Lab

NYU Langone Health • New York, NY

1h • $65,000 - $93,600

About The Position

The Senior Research Scientist will join the Tan Lab at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, whose mission is to understand how elements of the genome regulate gene expression and how this affects human disease. The lab combines machine learning, biological mechanisms, and large-scale data to study regulatory elements, transcription factors, 3D genome organization, and transcription. Its research includes building functional genomic foundation models, optimizing model architectures with biologically informed priors, applying genomic foundation models to human development and disease, developing generative models for DNA sequence design, and building agentic systems to automate computational research workflows.

The successful candidate collaborates with Principal Investigators and works independently within the laboratory’s scientific framework. The role involves planning and conducting complex research, developing new ideas and methods, guiding research activities, and contributing to scientific outputs. The candidate may also supervise lab staff, mentor students, support grant writing and funding applications, and contribute to lab operations, quality control, and compliance.

Requirements

• PhD and 3 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Substantial experience gained through completed postdoctoral training.
• PhD in computational biology, computer science, electrical engineering, statistics, biology, or another technical field.
• Experience leading Bio-ML projects in a collaborative environment and mentoring junior researchers.
• First-author publications in regulatory genomics.
• Experience assisting with grant applications.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, interpret, organize, execute, and coordinate research assignments critical to the department’s mission.
• Formulate and conduct research on problems of considerable scope and complexity.
• Explore subject areas and define the scope and selection of problems for investigation through related studies or projects.
• Make decisions and recommendations with a major impact on extensive scientific research activities.
• Develop ideas that promote current research and exercise creativity and judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding significant research programs.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of research projects.
• Develop research techniques and methodologies, and potentially protocols for research data collection and quality.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators and work independently within the laboratory’s scientific framework.
• May manage laboratory operations for the Principal Investigator, supervise postdoctoral researchers and technicians, and oversee the maintenance of laboratory instruments and software.
• May provide students with technical guidance, including computational techniques and general coding practices.
• May seek external grant funding for independent research projects with the consent of the PI and Department Chair, and may participate in writing grant proposals.
• May be responsible for research or laboratory quality control and compliance.
• Maintain knowledge of advances in specialized fields, including through attendance at scientific conferences.
• May contribute to scientific papers and serve as a resource, author, or co-author for reports and presentations.
• May recommend equipment purchases and laboratory space redesign.
• May coordinate activities and experimental design among laboratories, scientific staff, and collaborators, and identify and resolve technical problems.
• May serve on internal committees supporting research project goals.
• May work with the financial analyst to define the laboratory budget and help staff maintain spending within budget constraints.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and wellness package.
• Financial security benefits.
• Generous time-off program.
• Employee resource groups for peer support.
• Employee wellness program covering physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, social, financial, and preventive care.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree