Sr. Scientist, NGS and Bioinformatics Core

AlivaMab Discovery Services•San Diego, CA

About The Position

AlivaMab Biologics is seeking an outstanding individual to serve as the head of the NGS and Bioinformatics Core, enabling antibody discovery and engineering projects through oversight of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows, bioinformatics, and computational analysis to thoroughly examine antibody repertoires, broadening our understanding of sequence and functional diversity and therapeutic potential of biologics. The individual will also have the opportunity and is expected to contribute to broader technology development and antibody engineering in collaboration with cross-functional teams, working closely with scientists in the Protein Sciences, Antibody Engineering, Antibody Discovery, and Project Management teams.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related Life Sciences
Minimally, 5+ years of experience in biotech/pharma or an academic setting with a strong focus on bioinformatics, computational biology, and/or NGS data analysis
Proficiency in bioinformatics with hands-on experience applying NGS data analysis tools to antibody sequencing and immune repertoire workflows
Proficient Python coding skills with experience in developing or customizing bioinformatics workflows for antibody sequencing and immune repertoire analysis
Demonstrated experience applying AI/ML methods to antibody or protein sequence and structure data (e.g., sequence-epitope prediction, structure modeling)
Understanding of the biology of the human immune repertoire and immunoglobulin genes
Demonstrated initiative, insightfulness, and creativity in applications of AI/ML for analyses of antibody sequences and/or immune repertoires
Knowledge and hands-on experience in NGS library preparation, sequencing platforms, and QC methodologies
Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical skills
Meticulous attention to detail, planning, and organizational skills with a history of timeline-driven delivery
Excellent communicator, highly effective in interacting with key internal and external stakeholders
Team player and collaborative leader, with strong coaching and mentoring skills
High functioning in an environment dedicated to exceptional quality and integrity

Nice To Haves

Experience with single-cell sequencing workflows, such as 10X Genomics, is a plus
Experience with the applications of ML/AI to antibody drug discovery and development is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the ongoing development and implementation of enhanced bioinformatics pipelines and computational workflows for the analysis of antibody sequences and immune repertoires from NGS and other data sources
Apply and advance AI/ML approaches for antibody sequence analyses and sequence-epitope prediction
Manage and continuously improve the end-to-end NGS workflow (library generation, sequencing on Illumina MiSeq, QC, and downstream analysis), directing execution and safeguarding data quality
Ideate, propose, and lead new technology initiatives to expand sequencing capabilities, data infrastructure, and analytical tools
Serve as the primary subject matter expert in bioinformatics, computational analysis, and NGS, educating and supporting cross-functional teams on data interpretation and best practices
Maintain awareness of major announcements in the field and provide critical analyses of strengths and weaknesses of such claims to senior management
Collaborate with project leads on sequencing and computational analyses reports
Serve as a subject matter expert for the team in interactions with external partners, presenting sequencing data, interpreting results, and addressing partner questions with clarity and confidence
Operate with a high degree of scientific independence while maintaining proactive, open communication with stakeholders
Generate, organize, and maintain meticulous records using Electronic Lab Notebooks and generate SOPs