In this issue:

Featured Jobs:

• Director, Agri-food & Natural Resources
• Postdoctoral Associate

Closing Soon on the ISCB Career Center

Article: Building Your Professional Network as an Introvert

Career Compass Featured Jobs

Director, Agri-food & Natural Resources
Genome Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Job description: Helping Shape Canada’s Genomics Mission-Driven Impact

Genome Canada is seeking a Mission Director, Agri-food & Natural Resources to play a leadership role in shaping and stewarding mission-driven priorities that support a healthier, more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Canada.

The Mission Director leads the coordination and advancement of these priorities across agriculture and food systems, natural resources, and related areas, in alignment with the organization’s mandate and strategic objectives.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of science, policy, partnerships, and strategy, helping align people, partners, and investments so the broader system delivers impact none of us could achieve alone.

Genome Canada’s Mission Directors translate Genome Canada’s priorities into clear missions that mobilize programs, partnerships, data, and investments across the Canadian genomics ecosystem. Mission Directors provide leadership through influence, aligning functions, Genome Centres, and external partners to support effective mission execution and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Mission Design, Strategy, and Stewardship

• Lead the design, evolution, and stewardship of a Genome Canada–led mission spanning across the agriculture, food, and natural resources portfolio, in partnership with internal teams, Genome Centres and governance bodies.

• Conduct horizon scanning and analysis to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities relevant to mission priorities.

• Provide insight and advice to inform mission focus, positioning, and investment decisions.

• Translate mission strategy into implementable programs and partnership approaches, working collaboratively with Program Delivery, Communications, Finance, Governance and other functions.

• Monitor mission progress and external developments, advising senior management and governance bodies.

Partnerships and Ecosystem Engagement

• Develop and steward strategic partnerships across academia, industry, government, Indigenous partners, Genome Centres, and international organizations.

• Lead stakeholder mapping and engagement planning to strengthen collaboration across this ecosystem.

• Provide analysis and briefing support to advance collaboration with federal, provincial and international partners.

• Work in close partnership with Indigenous partners and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility) functions to ensure mission approaches align with reconciliation principles, inclusive innovation, and responsible research and innovation.

• Represent Genome Canada in relevant national and international forums.

Enterprise Coordination and Leadership

• Provide enterprise‑wide leadership within a matrix operating model, enabling alignment across missions, functions, and partners, and supporting effective sequencing and execution of priorities.

• Contribute to organizational planning and priority setting.

• Prepare briefings and materials for senior management, the Board, and external partners related to mission strategy and progress.

What You Bring

• Strategic and systems thinking with the ability to link mission, execution, and impact.

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with sound judgment in complex environments.

• Proven ability to build and sustain multi‑sector partnerships.

• Strong facilitation, influence, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing senior leaders and Boards.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in life sciences, public policy, business, or a related field focused on strategy, innovation, systems leadership or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive senior experience in strategy, partnerships, program development.

• Extensive experience in engaging partners and advancing collaboration across public, private, academic, and Indigenous sectors, with a strong track record of fostering collaboration and advancing shared priorities.

• Highly effective communicator with the ability to convey complex ideas with clarity and impact to diverse audiences.

• Ability to lead in a matrix structure and experience working in a federated model is an asset.

• Knowledge of Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem, including Genome Canada’s mandate and the role of Genome Centres.

• Experience working with Indigenous partners and/or applying IDEA or inclusive innovation frameworks is considered a strong asset.

• Fluency in English is required; French is a strong asset

Postdoctoral Associate
Duke University, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (B&B)
Durham, North Caroline, USA
Job description: The Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (B&B) at the Duke University School of Medicine engages in methodological and collaborative research, providing international and regional leadership in biostatistics, genomics, biomedical informatics, artificial intelligence and health data science. We are recruiting a creative, rigorous Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Dr. Wenpin Hou’s team to design and deploy new methods on large-scale datasets (e.g., NIH-funded and consortia resources). Dr. Wenpin Hou develops AI and statistical methods to decode gene regulatory programs from large-scale single-cell and spatial multiomics data. Her research aims to characterize developmental processes, uncover regulatory alterations in complex human diseases, and identify actionable targets for therapeutic intervention. Dr. Hou collaborate across Duke University, Columbia University, UC Santa Cruz, and Johns Hopkins to advance understanding of gene regulation, cellular mechanisms, and human health. Dr. Hou’s group has designated access to high-performance computing (H100 and H200 GPUs).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and co-lead projects in AI for genomics (e.g., generative models, transformers, agentic workflows) and/or statistical learning (e.g., network & spatiotemporal modeling, functional/longitudinal data, time-series).

• Analyze single-cell/spatial multi-omics and epigenomic data in applications spanning development, cancer, neurodegeneration, and immunology.

• Publish in top venues, present at major conferences, and contribute to open-source software.

• Receive tailored mentorship in grant writing (e.g., NIH K99/R00), career planning, and leadership.

Minimum Qualifications: The candidate should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Biostatistics/Statistics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field by the start date.

Qualifications

We welcome candidates grounded in one or more of the following:

• Generative AI/transformers, agentic AI, deep learning

• Computational genomics, network modeling, spatiotemporal/functional data analysis, time-series

• Strong programming in R and/or Python; best practices in reproducible research

• Excellent communication, independence, and collaboration skills

Closing Soon on the ISCB Career Center

These jobs will be leaving the Career Center this month:

• Bioinformatics Analyst / Postdoctoral research Fellow / Staff Scientist in Regulatory Genomics — Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

• Postdoc position in ML/AI methods + Large-scale omics + Open-source software — University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

• Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine — University of Wisconsin–Madison

• PhD candidate in plant computational biology — Aarhus University

• PhD candidate in comparative genomics and machine learning for plant biology — Aarhus University

• PhD student in Probabilistic deep learning for mass spectrometry data — KTH Royal Institute of Technology

• PhD student in Computational Mass Spectrometry within the ProtAIomics MSCA network — KTH Royal Institute of Technology

• Postdoctoral Fellow in AI for Multi-Omics Data Analysis — University Of Ottawa

• Teaching-Track Faculty Position in Quantitative and Computational Biology — University of Southern California

• Translational systems biology postdoc position [multi-scale patient models informed by organoids] — Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

• Postdoc in Plant Regulatory Genomics — New York University

• Postdoctoral Researcher - Translational Bioinformatics on Pediatric Rare Disorders — Shriners Children's Genomics Institute

Building Your Professional Network as an Introvert

For introverts in academia, networking may feel like one of the most draining parts of building a career, but it's also one of the most important. The good news is that effective networking doesn't have to mean working a crowded room or forcing small talk at every opportunity. This month, we’re sharing suggestions for quieter, more sustainable ways to build meaningful professional connections in a way that works for you.

Make the Most of Your Existing Network

For introverts, cold outreach to strangers can feel uncomfortable. The good news is that some of your most valuable networking opportunities are already right in front of you. One piece of advice that captures this idea well: “Use your network to network.” Ask people you know to introduce you to others they think you should meet. Having someone in common to help make an introduction can reduce a lot of stress.

While having a large network can be great, a strong network isn’t about quantity, it's about quality. It’s more helpful to have a handful of genuine connections who know your work and who will think of you when opportunities arise than to have dozens of connections you barely know.

Network on Your Own Terms

One of the biggest challenges for introverts is the pressure to be engaging, articulate, and personable on the spot. Asynchronous networking removes that pressure entirely.

Engaging with researchers on LinkedIn, contributing to online communities in your field, or simply keeping your profile and publications up to date lets you put your best foot forward on your own schedule.

If you do want to reach out to someone you’re not already connected with, a thoughtful comment on one of their recent posts or a well-crafted message introducing yourself after reading their paper can go further than an awkward conversation at a crowded reception ever would. Plus, you can take all the time you need to get the wording right!

Remember: Being Selective Isn't the Same as Opting Out

Introverts in academia often feel guilty for not wanting to attend every event, conference, or networking session they're invited to. But saying no strategically isn't a career setback, it's how you protect the energy you do have for the moments that are most important to you.

When time, energy, and budget are limited, being selective about where you show up means you can actually be present when you get there. Before committing to an event, ask yourself:

• Does this put me in front of the right people for where I want to go?

• Is this an area of my field I'm actively trying to grow in?

• Will I leave feeling like it was worth the investment?

Showing up intentionally to a few well-chosen events will always serve you better than burning out trying to attend everything.

Final Thoughts

Building your network as an introvert in academia is less about doing more and more about doing it differently. Leaning into the relationships you already have, finding ways to connect on your own schedule, and being intentional about where you invest your time and energy are all strategies that play to your strengths rather than working against them.

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