Principal Bioinformatics Research Scientist - Chemical Insights Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Bioinformatics Research Scientistat UL Research Institutes, based in our Research Triangle Park, NC office.

The Principal Bioinformatics Research Scientist serves as a senior technical expert contributing to the design, execution, and communication of advanced bioinformatics research efforts at the Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI). This role leads high-impact projects in support of strategic initiatives that advance public health by assessing and mitigating human exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants. This individual applies deep technical expertise in bioinformatics, transcriptomics, high-content imaging, high-throughput in vitro screening, and toxicology to deliver actionable data, tools, and innovations that inform chemical safety, risk assessment, regulatory policy, and public awareness.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Chemical Insights teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI):

The Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) contributes to the protection of public health and well-being by conducting scientific research. Our research and initiatives let people around the world know what chemicals are in the air we breathe and how they affect human health and the planet. We share our research and knowledge through information and application tools with leaders in the scientific, business, and policy communities to raise awareness of human health risks stemming from emerging technologies. To learn more, visit: chemicalinsights.org/

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Principal Bioinformatics Research Scientist, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Lead the design, execution, and public dissemination of the computational analysis of transcriptomic and high-content imaging data from high-throughput toxicology screening studies.

• Develop open source bioinformatic methods and pipelines that process, summarize, and interpret concentration response data from high-throughput in vitro assays.

• Collaborate with laboratory research scientists to analyze high-throughput screening results and apply insights to real-world challenges.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including scientists, health professionals, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions.

• Translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences, including the development of educational and risk communication materials.

• Serve as a principal investigator or lead author on high-visibility projects, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications.

• Lead and participate in writing research proposals and securing funding from internal and external sources.

• Mentor and guide junior researchers, post-docs, and interns in exposure methods, study design, and analysis.

• Represent CIRI at national and international scientific conferences, workshops, and technical forums.

• Continuously monitor emerging scientific research, technologies, and regulatory trends to inform strategy and maintain technical leadership in bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and in vitro toxicity screening.

• Perform other duties as directed.

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Expert-level knowledge in bioinformatics, transcriptomics, high-content imaging, and the analysis of high-throughput screening data.

• Proven experience integrating scientific research with applied real-world solutions, particularly in bioinformatics and human health risk assessment.

• Computational analysis of high-throughput concentration response transcriptomic and high-content imaging data.

• Demonstrated excellence in technical communication across written, verbal, and visual formats.

• Strong leadership and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.

• Ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and build consensus among diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years of post-graduate experience in bioinformatics.

• Demonstrated experience with the analysis and interpretation of high-throughput concentration/dose response transcriptomic data using pipelines such as tcplfit2 and BMDExpress.

• Strong knowledge of connectivity mapping and other signature matching methods for high-throughput transcriptomic data.

• Familiarity with the analysis of cell painting and high-throughput phenotypic profiling data.

• Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications, technical presentations to diverse audiences, and service on expert panels.

• Direct knowledge and experience with processing and analysis of high-throughput transcriptomics data for use in chemical safety and risk assessment.

• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary research teams.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our affiliate, UL Solutions, stands alongside us in working for a safer and more sustainable world. UL Solutions conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools, for customers around the world.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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