Bioinformatics Research Associate III - AFRL

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Bioinformatics Research Associate III to conduct computational analysis of complex genomic, metagenomic, and transcriptomic datasets to support pathogen-agnostic characterization of known, novel, and emerging biological agents. Develops and maintains bioinformatics pipelines, performs advanced data interpretation and visualization, and collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams to enable biological threat detection, surveillance, and characterization in support of public health, biodefense, and scientific research initiatives.

This position will be in support of Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring, and Sustaining (CHEERS) program. The CHEERS program is a Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM). CHEERS is designed to provide a comprehensive strategy for AFRL and USAFSAM's range of Science and Technology (S&T) and Studies and Analysis (S&A), enabling progression from basic research through technology maturation and transition. The program focuses on human-centered research to:

• Enable, sustain, enhance, and restore the health, performance, and readiness of multi-domain Airman.
• Integrate biological and cognitive technologies to optimize and protect Airman capabilities in Fly, Fight, and Win across Air, Space, and Cyberspace

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Analyze next-generation sequencing (NGS), metagenomic, transcriptomic, genomic, and microbiome datasets to identify known, novel, and emerging pathogens.
• Perform quality control, preprocessing, assembly, taxonomic classification, annotation, and comparative genomic analyses of sequencing data.
• Integrate laboratory-generated data with computational workflows to support pathogen discovery, surveillance, and characterization efforts.
• Develop and optimize computational methods, algorithms, and analytical workflows for broad-spectrum biological threat detection.
• Interpret complex biological datasets and generate actionable insights for research, public health, biodefense, and diagnostic applications.
• Collaborate with laboratory scientists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and data scientists to support multidisciplinary research initiatives.
• Conduct phylogenetic, evolutionary, and population genomic analyses to assess pathogen diversity, transmission, and emergence.
• Create data visualizations, dashboards, and reports to communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Manage, curate, and organize large-scale biological datasets while ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and traceability.
• Support method validation, benchmarking, and performance evaluation of bioinformatics tools and analytical pipelines.
• Develop scripts and software tools for automation of data processing, analysis, and reporting workflows.
• Prepare technical reports, scientific manuscripts, presentations, and sponsor deliverables.
  Maintain compliance with data security, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements related to biological research.
• Stay current with emerging bioinformatics tools, sequencing technologies, computational methods, and pathogen surveillance strategies.

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree
• Minimum of 6-8 years' experience required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Capable of working both independently and as a team player.
• Analytical capability of data from major proteogenomic experimental platforms including NextGen sequencing and mass-spectrometry proteomics, and array-based data.
• Capable of using data analysis application software such as R and SAS. Familiar with a relational database such as Oracle or MySQL.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and capable of writing abstracts, manuscripts, and reports.
• US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a T3/Secret Clearance, including background check and drug screening.

Physical Capabilities

• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 10 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in a clinical setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $93,100-$125,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.