BIOINFORMATICS ANALYST II

Geisinger
United States MD Rockville

Description

BIOINFORMATICS ANALYST II

JOB TITLE: Bioinformatics Analyst II
LOCATION: Rockville, Maryland
DEPARTMENT: Research
WORK SCHEDULE: Days
WORK TYPE: Full Time


JOB SUMMARY:
The Bioinformatics Analyst II's (BA II) primary accountability is to leverage Geisinger bioinformatic data assets to improve quality, efficiency and generate knowledge specifically in the field of health research and implementation. The BA II uses data management expertise, programming abilities, critical thinking skills, and a background in human genomics to solve complex issues as well as identify new and innovative uses and transformations of available data. The BA II performs and supervises complex data extraction, transformation, visualization, and summarization to support bioinformatic-driven health research activities. The role looks beyond the surface layer of available data to effectively identify potential sources of error and omission. The role also requires employing both current bioinformatic tools (genome alignment and variant calling, GWAS, PheWAS, annotation, statistics, etc.) and anticipating novel methods to analyze clinical data for research. The BA II will also be expected to maintain and use data reporting/management tools and collaborate with Geisinger faculty and staff to contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
The BA II will work under the direct supervision of the leadership of the Bioinformatics Core Resource to identify, develop, and execute initiatives related to ongoing research at Geisinger to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency


MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Transformation, Exploration, and Visualization of Genomic Data
• Strategically considers all potential uses for available data, and how to transform disparate data into more useful data.
• Help create and manage a very large and scalable database for storage and access to industry-standard NGS analysis data outputs. Work with members of Geisinger's phenomics core to integrate genomics datatypes with Electronic Health Record data. Work with members of the Geisinger National Precision Health team to advance implementation research in genomics and population health.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and enforcement of data management standards and procedures. Ensures accuracy, data integrity and validity of data/analysis in all work.
* Research and Evaluation
• Proactively identifies potential outcome analysis and basic evaluation structure in the planning phases of research projects.
• Provides guidance, feedback, and input in the development of protocols and research proposals.
• Works with colleagues to design custom computational, bioinformatic, and statistical analysis strategies for research questions, using available resource packages and custom scripting.
• Leverages awareness of recent literature and tech developments in bioinformatics and genomics and introduces new technological advancements as necessary.
* Project Coordination, Stakeholder Management, Business Case Development
• Works closely with all levels of staff, customers and improvement teams to determine analytic needs and requirements; independently develops quantitative approaches (drawing on a range of methodologies) to identify opportunities for performance improvement. Proactively educates the requester of any complexities associated with the data requests.
• Participates as a collaborator during start-up and coordination of development initiatives.
* Development, Mentorship, Management
• Serves as an internal and external training resource and develops training materials for bioinformatic tools, methodologies and reports.
• Provides technical, analytical, and business guidance to other team members as well as the various units within Geisinger.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
*Denotes essential job duties

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:
• Demonstrates scientific proficiency, creativity, and ability to communicate effectively with others in a small team environment.
• Demonstrates understanding of human genetics, genomics, and variant analysis.
• Demonstrates significant experience in hands-on analysis of next-generation sequencing data.
• Demonstrates understanding of relational database concepts and query tools.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively communicate quantitative information to faculty, research staff, physicians, data analysts, and other collaborators.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and resourcefulness.
• Demonstrates database development and management skills (Microsoft SQL Server, Teradata SQL Server) and the ability to instruct users on programming related to large data repositories.
• Demonstrates programming experience using scripting languages, such as Python, and statistical tools, such as R, as well as fluency with Linux shell scripting and high-performance computing environments.
• Demonstrates familiarity with publicly available human genomic resources (NCBI, Ensembl, ClinVar, UCSC, open-source resources, etc.).
• Demonstrates knowledge of research methodology and research data collection.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrates general understanding of the healthcare industry.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Master's degree in bioinformatics, informatics, genomics, computer science, computational biology, or related field required.
Minimum three years of experience with health care or human genomic data required.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work is typically performed in an office environment.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to successfully perform the job.

ABOUT GEISINGER:
One of the nation's most innovative health services organizations, Geisinger serves more than 1.5 million patients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The system includes 13 hospital campuses, a nearly 600,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Geisinger is known for its focus on caring and innovative programs including the ProvenCare® best-practice approach to maximize quality, safety and value; ProvenHealth Navigator® advanced medical home; Springboard Health® population health program to improve the health of an entire community; ProvenExperience™ to provide refunds to patients unhappy with their care experience; and Geisinger's MyCode® Community Health Initiative, the largest healthcare system-based precision health project in the world. With more than 215,000 volunteer participants enrolled, MyCode is conducting extensive research and returning medically actionable results to participants. A physician-led organization, with approximately 32,000 employees and more than 1,800 employed physicians, Geisinger leverages an estimated $12.7 billion positive annual impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economies. Repeatedly recognized nationally for integration, quality and service, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to patient care, medical education, research and community service. For more information, visit geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and domestic partners.* Perhaps just as important, from senior management on down, we encourage an atmosphere of collaboration, cooperation and collegiality.

** Does not qualify for J-1 waiver. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.
*Domestic partner benefits not applicable at Geisinger Holy Spirit.


PLEASE APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.GEISINGER.ORG/CAREERS OR SEND YOUR RESUME TO BJHICKS@GEISINGER.EDU.

PI107968373


Qualifications


Start date

February 22, 2019

How to Apply

Apply online


Contact

Bobbi Hicks
bjhicks@geisinger.edu