In this issue:

Welcome to the ISCB Career Compass!

The ISCB Career Compass is a monthly newsletter designed to support your professional growth!

Each issue of Career Compass will feature an informative article on career development topics such as job search strategies, CV optimization, and crafting a great elevator pitch. Additionally, we'll provide a spotlight selection of job postings from the ISCB Career Center.

Employers looking to enhance their job postings can upgrade their post to Career Compass status. This posting upgrade includes extended, 90-day visibility of the post and inclusion in the Career Compass newsletter in our Career Compass Featured Jobs section.

We hope you find the Career Compass to be a valuable resource in your career journey!

Career Compass Featured Jobs

Researcher, University of Oklahoma
Job description: Advancements in single-cell genomic, including spatially-resolved techniques, are transforming our understanding of biology. We are seeking exceptional students and graduates to work on challenges and applications of these groundbreaking technologies, especially in the context of cancer immunology and immuno-modulation.

Whether your degree is in Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or Mathematics, if you are passionate about working at the intersection of biology and computation, interested in functional genomics and thrive in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment, this is the perfect PhD or PostDoc opportunity for you.

Protein Engineering Data Scientist, IFF, United States California Palo Alto
Job description: At IFF we are looking for an experienced machine learning oriented protein engineer. As part of our team, you will identify the state-of-the-art in data-driven methods for library design, adjust them to our purposes and help implement them for direct use in business projects.

In our team, machine learning staff, molecular biologists, biochemists, and automation hardware engineers work side-by-side. Improvements are deployed with minimal delay, and you can expect to have large impact on the value of our products.

As a Protein Engineering Data Scientist, you will help to define our design strategy and to implement it so that it seamlessly integrates with our high-throughput screening workflows

PhD in Bioinformatics in Tropical Australia, James Cook University
Job descrption: Successful PhD candidate will work with leading immunologists and bioinformaticians across Australia in networks including the Centre for Personalised Immunology (www.cpi.org.au) and CIRCA (www.garvan.org.au/research/collaborative-programs/circa). This project will utilise the latest in sequencing technologies (including single cell and long reads) to discover the genetic contribution to human immunological diseases. This PhD would help develop cutting edge bioinformatics workflows and through collaborations with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research to further our understanding of the progression of autoimmune disease.

Brue Mitchell fellow, Queen's University
Job description: We invite you to join our laboratory affiliated with Queen’s University, School of Medicine, and School of Computing. This prestigious Bruce Mitchell PhD fellowship offers an opportunity to work and receive training in computational methods and data analysis for studying the epigenetic mechanisms of cancer. The fellow is expected to collaborate closely with an experimental group from the Biology Department to elucidate the mechanisms of cancer mutations in histone and chromatin remodelers.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Computational Cancer Genomics, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital
MGH Cancer Center, HMS Department of Biomedical Infomatics
Job description: The Gülhan Lab is seeking multiple postdoctoral fellows to work on innovative computational methods in the research areas of interest of the lab.

Below is a list of example projects:

1. Mutational signature analysis:
Building innovative signature analysis methods addressing some of the limitations of existing approaches.

Improving accuracy and interpretability of signatures by deconvoluting their temporal and genomic locus dependence.
Applying these methods in large datasets and by building an effective multi-study discovery strategy.
Comprehensive characterization of genomic instability mechanisms and patient classification through multi-modal signature analysis methods.

2. Liquid biopsy tests with cell-free DNA:
Building a comprehensive set of algorithms for mutation, tumor detection and gene expression inference methods; Utilizing them in development of an early-cancer detection cell-free DNA test and studying drug resistance mechanisms.

High accuracy single-nucleotide variant and indel detection through the use of signatures and machine learning
Building fragmentomics model for improved CNV and tumor fraction inference
Enhanced tumor detection using mutations and fragmentomics jointly
Gene expression inference methods

3. Long read single-cell sequencing:
Developing tools for joint genome and transcriptome profiling and using it to study early cancer development mechanisms and dynamic shifts in cancer cell composition in pre-/post-treatment biopsies in patients treated with targeted therapies.

Calling copy number variants, single-nucleotide variants, and indels from long-read scRNA-seq data. Studying mutational processes and their intratumor heterogeneity
Multi-modal characterization of single cells to detect cancer cells in precursor lesions
Multi-modal characterization of changes in molecular characteristics of cellular composition of tumors in highly heterogeneous metastatic tumors
Studying haploinsufficiency of immune cells in DNA-repair gene mutation carriers

Postdocs will get the chance to be a part of supportive and inclusive communities such as the Bioinformatics team at the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at MGH and the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School. They will work closely with clinical teams at the forefront of precision oncology. Additionally, we accommodate remote or hybrid positions.

Search More Jobs

7 Strategies to Use in Your Job Search

Navigating a job search can be challenging, but it's also an opportunity for growth and new beginnings! Whether you're a recent graduate entering the workforce or a professional seeking a career change, an effective strategy can significantly improve your prospects. Below are 7 simple strategies that can improve your job search approach.

1. Establish Clear Goals and a Routine

An often overlooked piece of advice when looking for a job is to be clear on what your career goals are and what it is you really want in a job. For example, what are your salary requirements? What’s your preferred work setup (office or remote)? Thinking about the answers to these and similar questions will help you target the right opportunities.

Once you’re clear on what you’re looking for, create a job search routine (one that includes scheduled breaks). Set aside non-negotiable time each day or week for your job search tasks. And remember: There's no need to cram everything into one day, just keep those application deadlines in mind!

2. Build a Solid Online Presence

Before diving into your job search, ensure your LinkedIn profile is current—or create one if you don’t have one already!

Start engaging on the platform by posting, sharing content, and commenting. Use LinkedIn to highlight your expertise and lessons learned from grad school or your career. Follow companies you're interested in and professionals in your industry that you admire, and regularly interact with their posts to boost your visibility!

Quick tip: Keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date may not seem important, but don’t neglect it! Many employers and hiring managers frequently check LinkedIn profiles and compare them to resumes they’ve received. A strong presence here can give you a competitive edge in your job search!

3. Networking

Networking will always be helpful in a job search! A few great ways to network include:

Leveraging your connections. Ask those in your network to be your job-hunting allies! Rally friends and colleagues to be your eyes and ears in the job market.
Attending industry events. These events are your backstage pass to company cultures and jobs in the hidden market.
Joining professional organizations. Being part of a professional organization or society (like ISCB!) can provide access to exclusive job boards and boost your industry credibility.
Conducting informational interviews. These casual chats can provide company insights and job leads not posted publicly.
Updating your LinkedIn status. Sharing your career aspirations and job search status on this platform can turn your profile into a job-seeking beacon.

4. Utilize Job Search Sites and Company Websites

While networking will always be a crucial step in your job search, don't overlook traditional job search sites (e.g. Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn). Even if you don’t find the perfect match there, searching on these sites might help narrow down what you are looking for and help you solidify your career goals.

You can also check directly on company websites to see what job postings may be advertised there and that might not be on public job sites. It might be helpful, too, to follow companies you want to work for on social media to see any posts about open positions!

5. Focus on the Hidden Job Market

Simply put, the hidden job market encompasses those jobs that aren’t publicly advertised by employers. These jobs may be filled internally, or external candidates may be found by employee referral programs (read: networking) or through recruitment agencies.

To find this job market on your own, carve out some time in your job search schedule to research companies you'd be interested in working for and reach out directly to inquire about potential job openings. You never know unless you ask!

6. Tailor Your Applications

A generic resume and cover letter won’t stand out, so for each application you submit, make sure you’re customizing your resume and cover letter! Highlight the skills and experiences you have that are relevant to and align with the job for which you’re applying. Taking the time to do this will help show employers and hiring managers that you’ve read and understand the job description and that you’re genuinely interested in the position.

7. Prepare for Interviews

You did it! You got the interview—but your work isn’t finished yet! Preparation is key here.

Prior to your interview, research the company, practice common interview questions, and prepare questions to ask your interviewer. This preparation can help you make a strong impression and increase your chances of landing the job!

Final Thoughts

Keeping these strategies in mind and implementing them as you embark on your job search will help you maximize your opportunities by keeping your job search focused and your goals clear!