Postdoctoral Research Associate - Protein Bioinformatics

The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, seeks culturally and professionally diverse candidates to apply for the Postdoctoral Research Associate - Protein Bioinformatics position.

Since its inception in 1996, the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering has brought innovative, real-world engineering education to Central Virginia. Comprised of five different departments plus the Dean’s office, the College of Engineering enrolls more than 1,700 undergraduate and 250 graduate students in several degree programs supported by approximately 600 full-time, part-time, and student employees. As part of a premier research university known for tenacity, love of the city of Richmond, and commitment to diversity and access, the College of Engineering values the significant and positive impact of our people and ideas in the promotion of regional and global prosperity involving research and life sciences.

Position Responsibilities:

Dr. Lukasz Kurgan’s laboratory in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Commonwealth University has a postdoctoral research associate position available. The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to develop and expand a diversified technical skillset while making significant contributions to the development of cutting-edge bioinformatics tools and resources. Research projects will involve design, implementation, comparative analysis, and deployment of computational algorithms, parsing and analysis of molecular data, development and administration of online databases and servers, writing and publishing scientific articles, and drafting grant proposals. An ideal candidate will have a strong background in programming, use of machine learning libraries, predictive modelling, and (preferably) computational analysis of molecular data. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in the analysis of protein sequences and/or structures. In this position, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work and collaborate with a network of lab mates, scientists and engineers.

Required Qualifications:

- Ph.D. in Computer Science, Bioinformatics or closely related field
- Demonstrated experience with programming (python and/or java) and predictive machine learning modelling
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and short turnaround times
-The College of Engineering at VCU champions diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do. Cultivating an ecosystem where differences are celebrated and our faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to thrive is at the core of how we operate. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience that shows their commitment to fostering such an environment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

- Demonstrated experience with machine learning libraries in python (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow and others)
- Demonstrated experience with front end and back end development of web servers
- Demonstrated experience in the analysis and prediction of protein sequences
- Ability to mentor junior team members

About the College of Engineering:

The College of Engineering’s mission is to create and grow a diverse community of exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners that strive to create a common future for all where innovative, sustainable, and equitable solutions to global engineering challenges are realized for the benefit of this generation and future generations. Additional information about the department’s programs and faculty may be found at https://egr.vcu.edu/departments/computer/.

FLSA Status: Exempt
ORP Eligible: Yes

Salary Range: $50,000

Position Details:

Department: 
Employment Type: PD - Post Doc
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Lukasz Kurgan, Ph.D.

Contact Email: lkurgan@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: 

Salary : $50,000