Research Associate

NYU Grossman School of Medicine is one of the nation's top-ranked medical schools. For 175 years, NYU Grossman School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Health, the Grossman School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research, and direct patient care. At NYU Langone Health, equity and inclusion are fundamental values. We strive to be a place where our exceptionally talented faculty, staff, and students of all identities can thrive. We embrace inclusion and individual skills, ideas, and knowledge.

For more information, go to med.nyu.edu, and interact with us on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Position Summary:
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Research Associate.

The Brandes Lab at NYU School of Medicine is seeking a Research Associate to help drive the labs research agenda in applying advanced AI models in genomics. Our lab has been at the forefront of developing and using innovative AI models, especially protein language models, to predict protein function and the impact of genetic mutations. For more information about our lab, visit brandeslab.org.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Conduct cutting-edge genetic research using genomic large language models (LLMs) to analyze biological sequences (DNA, RNA and proteins) and genetic mutations.
2. Analyze large-scale genetic datasets, including those from biobanks and other genetic cohorts.
3. Analyze high-throughput experimental data, including from single-cell sequencing.
4. Collaborate with lab members and external collaborators to achieve research objectives.
5. Contribute to the preparation of research publications and grant proposals.
6. Read and inform the lab of relevant scientific literature.

Additional Position Specific Responsibilities:
Potential Projects:
1. Incorporate variant effect prediction in statistical genetics to implicate rare variants and establish causality. Utilize genomic LLMs to enhance genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk scores (PRS), allowing these studies to focus on variants more likely to have an impact.
2. Identify specific genetic effects and optimize genomic sequences. Apply AI models to differentiate between various mutation effects, including loss-of-function, gain-of-function and dominant-negative effects. Integrate data from deep mutational scans and single-cell RNA sequencing to identify mutation combinations that optimize genetic backgrounds for therapeutic purposes.
3. Make AI suitable for the non-coding genome. Generalize our approaches, currently focused on protein sequences, towards LLMs that predict the effects of non-coding variants and their roles in diseases.

Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify you must have a College graduate with a B.S. or B.A. in Biomedical or Physical Sciences. A minimum commitment of two years is required and placement in position may not exceed three years.

Preferred Qualifications:
1. Experience in computational biology, ideally with genomic and genetic data analysis.
2. Experience working with large-scale genetic/genomic datasets.
3. Experience with machine learning.
4. Experience with modern AI algorithms, including deep learning, transformers and LLMs.
5. Experience with deep-learning models in Python, preferably using PyTorch.
6. Experience with single-cell data.
We welcome applications from candidates who meet at least some of these preferred qualifications.
Salary: Compensation is flexible and will be tailored to the candidate's experience and qualifications.
Application process: When applying, please include a brief outline (up to 2 paragraphs) of your relevant qualifications and interest in the position.

Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution you can be proud of, an institution where you'll feel good about devoting your time and your talents. At NYU Langone Health, we are committed to supporting our workforce and their loved ones with a comprehensive benefits and wellness package. Our offerings provide a robust support system for any stage of life, whether it's developing your career, starting a family, or saving for retirement. The support employees receive goes beyond a standard benefit offering, where employees have access to financial security benefits, a generous time-off program and employee resources groups for peer support. Additionally, all employees have access to our holistic employee wellness program, which focuses on seven key areas of well-being: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, social, financial, and preventive care. The benefits and wellness package is designed to allow you to focus on what truly matters. Join us and experience the extensive resources and services designed to enhance your overall quality of life for you and your family.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer and committed to inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration. We require applications to be completed online.

View Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal.

NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $47,033.89 - $50,000.00 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

To view the Pay Transparency Notice, please click here