Postdoctoral Position to Develop Machine Learning Approaches for Studying Combinatorial Gene Regulation

Duke University has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral fellow to develop and implement new models to predict the regulatory impact of genomic variation. Such models may include: probabilistic graphical models, deep neural network models and hybrids of the two. The position is funded as part of the Duke Prediction Center, a center with the NHGRI-funded, Impact of Genomic Variation on Function (IGVF) consortium. The goal of the Duke Prediction Center is to develop the analytic approaches and tools that will allow for the routine annotation of noncoding variation for functionality and ultimately pathogenicity. The successful applicant will have access large, multimodal datasets, representing a number of novel perturbation experiments of human genomic variation, both through the IGVF consortia and through existing relationships with labs at Duke. A multidisciplinary team of three Duke principal investigators leads the project with an opportunity to also collaborate with members of the Duke Characterization Center also funded as part of the IGVF consortium. The postdoctoral associate hired for this position would report directly to PI Dr. Andrew Allen with shared mentorship by PIs Drs. David Page and Sayan Mukherjee.

The successful applicant will lead projects developing machine learning approaches, including new statistical approaches to analyze data from new and improved CRISPR systems for the purpose of informing experimental design, prediction, and simulation. Additionally, the position will work to integrate deep neural networks with probabilistic models offering a unique opportunity to work across computational and quantitative disciplines. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in the analysis of high throughput genomic data, including RNAseq, scRNAseq, MPRAs, and CRISPR-based assay data. The candidate will work with a team of faculty, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students conducting research and training on human gene regulation.

The position will be based in Durham NC, and will involve travel to annual IGVF meetings.

Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree, and have documented experience in one or more areas described above. The ideal candidate will also have a demonstrated track record of scientific productivity, for example via published manuscripts and/or fellowship funding; experience analyzing data from high-throughput biological experiments; and is excited to work in a highly collaborative and multi-disciplinary research environment.  

Please use the following link to apply online at Duke Careers:   https://careers.duke.edu/job-invite/231131/

Duke University is a comprehensive research institution that includes a remarkably wide range of academic departments and programs (www.duke.edu) and is recognized as one of the premier research institutions in the United States. Duke is uniquely positioned to provide excellent opportunities for collaboration with colleagues across a variety of disciplines.

Minimum Degree Requirements: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g. Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M.). Should be used for post-doctoral fellows if the candidate has completed all of the requirements for a degree, but the degree has not been formally conferred; the candidate may present evidence of completion of the degree requirements, together with a statement documenting the date on which the degree is to be conferred. 

Other Credential/Experiential Requirements:

• The term of this appointment is limited (3 years with a possible extension for an additional year).
• The appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship.
• The appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full time academic or research career. • The appointee works under the supervision of a scholar or a department at Duke University.
• The appointee is expected to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment. 

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.