Department

BSD MED - Genetic Medicine

About the Department

The Section of Genetic Medicine continues to shape the future of personalized medicine with successful research programs focused on the quantitative genetic and genomic science. The Section provides extremely valuable collaborations with investigators in the Department of Medicine who are seeking to develop new and more powerful ways to identify genetic risk factors for common, complex disorders with almost immediate clinical application. The Section of Genetic Medicine conducts impactful investigations focused on quantitative genetics, systems biology and genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology.

Job Summary

The Zhou lab is seeking a Staff Scientist to lead the analysis and interpretation of genomic sequences and large-scale biological datasets and to advance research in regulatory genomics, sequence-to-function modeling, and disease genetics.

Responsibilities

Plan, execute, and facilitate advanced technical/scientific projects; design, develop, and test computational methods; and collaborate across disciplines to deliver robust, reproducible results.
The role spans project conception to publication, including method development, data integration, model building, and clear communication of findings.
The individual in this role will be involved in all aspects of the design, development, implementation, and analysis of research projects across the lab’s focus areas.
Design, develop, and validate computational methods (e.g., ML/AI models, data analysis pipelines, statistical methods).
Analyze and interpret biological data. Collaborates with other researchers as appropriate.
Participates in the preparation and writing of grant applications and reports, and co-authors scientific research manuscripts.
May supervise other research staff and students.
Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Facilitates and promotes a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
Develops laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage, analyze and make recommendations on complex data sets for research.
Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing computational genomics methods (e.g., ML/AI applications to biological data, NGS processing, single‑cell/multi‑omics, functional genomics screen).
Track record of impactful publications and contributions to collaborative projects.
Experience assisting in training/mentorship.
Supervisory experience.
Experience with modern data science workflows (e.g., Python/R, version control, HPC/cloud).

Preferred Competencies

Knowledge of genomics/bioinformatics methods, machine learning and statistics.
Familiarity with regulatory genomics, sequence/variant effect modeling, or multi‑omic data analysis.
Understanding of research integrity, data governance, and applicable regulatory/Compliance policies.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; high attention to detail; excellent organizational skills.
Clear verbal and written communication; ability to work independently and within a team.
Commitment to rigorous, reproducible, and well‑documented science.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

Drug Test Required

Health Screen Required

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$80,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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