Staff Scientist

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

7d•$80,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Scientist will conduct original research modeling immune-microbe interactions using computational and machine learning approaches. The role emphasizes exploratory work at the intersection of immunology and AI. The Staff Scientist will work in a collaborative environment with computational and experimental investigators in the IPPH and at the Laboratory for Computational Immunology, University of Chicago, and partner institutions. This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Requirements

PhD in related field.
Knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a closely related quantitative field.
At least one year of research experience in machine learning applied to microbiology, protein science or related biological problems.
Prior experience in one or more of the following areas: Experience at the intersection of microbiology and machine learning.
Familiarity with immune-specific datasets (e.g., IEDB, OAS, SAbDab) or structural databases (PDB, UniProt).
Track record of publishing in top-tier AI, structural biology, or computational biology venues.
Demonstrated experience applying computational and machine learning methods to microbiome data and protein sequence or structural data.
Proficiency with the Python scientific and ML ecosystem and experience on Linux HPC / SLURM clusters or cloud environments.
Ability to conduct independent research, mentor junior lab members, and communicate results clearly in writing and in presentations.
Familiarity with current trends in AI and biological data sciences.
Commitment to ethical research practices, data integrity, and responsible AI principles.
Outstanding organization, analytic, and communication (oral and written) skills.
Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and collaboratively, depending on the job needs.
Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and apply computational and machine learning methods to model host immune responses to microbial communities, integrating microbiome and protein-level analyses.
Pursue independent lines of inquiry at the intersection of microbial proteins, immunology, and AI, generating new hypotheses and innovative research directions.
Partner with wet-lab teams to connect computational predictions with microbiome and immunological data, facilitating cross-disciplinary insights and translational outcomes.
Promote open science principles, share code and data, and engage with the scientific community via conferences, seminars, and collaborative initiatives.
Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Facilitates and promotes a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
Creates first drafts for scientific writing and publications, including protocols and grants.
Performs other related work as needed.