[Biopython] programmer position open in our group (Seattle, WA)

[Erick Matsen]

Hello there Biopython community--


We are looking for another top programmer to join our group. The full
text of the ad is below, or see the online version at
http://matsen.fhcrc.org/programmer-ad.html


Thanks!

Erick

----

Advance biology with the tools you love

Our group at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle is
looking for an experienced programmer to write code and analyze data.
We develop methods for the evolutionary analysis of next-generation
DNA sequence data for HIV research and the study of the human
microbiome (bacteria that live on and inside of us). And we love
coding, especially in OCaml and Python.

Your job will be to develop, deploy, and apply a computational
pipeline for metagenomics annotation using phylogenetics. This will
include:

    A framework to automatically select collections of sequences for
evolutionary comparison using phylogenetic and taxonomic criteria
    Implementation of high performance phylogenetic models
    Implementation of methods to infer gene function and taxonomic
identity from phylogenetic trees
    Application of machine learning techniques to phylogenetic placement data

You will be joining a core group of one group leader and two
programmers, as well as a larger community of programmers and many
biologists. There is a lot of knowledge here, and you will have
support while you are learning the ropes. On the other hand, in order
to succeed at this job you will need to be able to read scientific
papers and work through references to find the necessary background.
Scientific curiosity strictly required.

You will also need some serious coding chops. Your code should be DRY,
well documented, and robust. Long-time linux hacker a big plus.

If you are not already aware, biology is a tremendously exciting area
right now, and this is an opportunity to work at the forefront. The
work environment will be dynamic, and we are always looking for better
ways to do our work. On the other hand we’re serious about helping
biologists with their data and sometimes that just means turning the
crank on data analysis. All finalized code will be open source, and
you will be required to feed as much code as possible into Biopython
or other relevant projects.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of about 190 faculty
including three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research
institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical
research. The environment is lively yet casual, with a strong emphasis
on collaborative work. The center has great benefits and a lovely
campus next to Lake Union within walking distance from downtown.
Powerful computing resources and a helpful IT staff await you.

Although the FHCRC is a large facility, this will be much more like an
informal startup-style job. You’ll be expected to come into work for
design discussions, but other than that your schedule will be your
own, as long as those commits keep coming. Competitive salary, which
will scale according to your level of experience.

You can find out more about our work by visiting:

    http://matsen.fhcrc.org/
    http://github.com/matsen
    http://github.com/fhcrc

Requirements

    BS in a relevant field or at least four years relevant work experience
    a high level of linux proficiency (at least three years)
    top-notch programming skills, with at least a year of Python experience
    experience using a VCS, preferably git
    SQL experience a plus
    the ability to work independently with a long-range goal in mind
    interest in bioinformatics

How to apply

Please send a CV and significant code sample, preferably in Python, to
Nerreda Chavez at nchavez at fhcrc.org. The code should be DRY, well
documented, and show that you can use some non-trivial features of
your chosen language.

-- 
Frederick "Erick" Matsen, Assistant Member
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
http://matsen.fhcrc.org/