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ISCB News and Announcements

 

ISMB/ECCB 2025
tutorial proposals
are due soon

 

There are only 10 days left to submit tutorial proposals to the world's largest bioinformatics and computational biology conference!

Submission deadline: Thursday, December 19, 2024

Click the button below for more information on tutorial proposal submissions and other important dates.

We look forward to your submission!

Submit Here
 
 
 
 
 

ISMB/ECCB 2025 is now accepting Proceedings paper submissions

 
Share your latest research advances in computational biology and its intersections, from algorithms and AI to data visualization and citizen science!

Submission deadline: Thursday, January 23, 2025

Click the button below for detailed information about Proceedings papers and to submit your work.

Submit Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Career Compass Featured Jobs featured

AI Scientist ai
HHMI Janelia, Ashburn, Virginia
Job description:
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scientist is an outstanding independent scientist who develops, implements, and executes innovative AI-based research projects in the pursuit of biological discoveries or the generation of new research tools. AI Scientists create, lead, or participate in research projects of highly variable scale, ranging from individual work to HHMI-wide strategic initiatives. The AI Scientist will work closely with scientists from across the broader HHMI community. They participate in, build, or supervise highly collaborative research teams consisting of other scientists, engineers, and technicians. We are hiring multiple AI Scientists and are open to various levels of experience.

What We Provide:

  • A competitive compensation package with comprehensive health and welfare benefits. In addition to the base salary described below, this position may also be eligible for incentive pay.

  • Generous training and travel opportunities to workshops and conferences.

  • Access to state- of- the- art computational infrastructure and extended capabilities provided through assistance from Janelia’s Support teams and Project teams.

  • A healthy work-life balance, with on-site childcare, free gyms, on-campus housing, vibrant social and dining spaces, and shuttle-bus service to Janelia from Washington, DC metro area!

  • Flexible work arrangements are available.

  • Relocation assistance provided for non-local candidates who wish to transition to the Washington, DC, metro area.

What You'll Do:

  • Plan, initiate, and rigorously execute independent or collaborative AI-based research; may oversee personnel and budgets toward this goal.

  • Perform scientific duties on new and varied problems where only general objectives are stated.

  • Explore and develop new methods, skills, and tools. Make research outputs available through peer-reviewed scientific publications, high-quality datasets, code, and applications.

  • Collaborate with other scientists, engineers, and technicians across project teams.

  • Initiate and be flexible to transfer between projects and groups as appropriate and participate in reviewing other projects and scientists and providing constructive feedback and guidance.

  • Perform advanced development work to obtain and maintain technical leadership in the field of AI.

  • Assist HHMI and Janelia leadership in planning and execution of program-wide initiatives; ensure coordination with related efforts or other projects and research areas.

  • Explore and develop new methods, skills, and tools. Make your research outputs available through peer-reviewed scientific publications, high-quality datasets, code, and applications.

  • Adhere to the highest academic, scientific, and ethical standards in all professional activities, including the responsible use of AI technologies.

 

Postdoctoral Research Associate postdoc
Washington State University, Department of Anthropology
Pullman, WA
Job description:
The Meehan Lab in the Department of Anthropology at Washington State University (WSU) has a Postdoctoral Research Associate position available for a full-time, twelve-month fixed-term appointment located in Pullman, WA with the potential for remote work. At the intersection of social and biological sciences, the Meehan Lab is studying human milk composition and its associations with mother-infant environments, including the relationship between and among cannabis use during lactation and holistic human milk composition and infant development.

This postdoctoral fellow will join with an interdisciplinary team at Washington State University, University of Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to study human milk, cannabis, and multi-omics!

This is a one-year position. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on January 1, 2025. Renewal depends on satisfactory performance, the continued need for the position, and funding continuation.

The successful candidate is expected to:

  • Conduct analysis for an NIH-funded project focused on characterizing and comparing multi-omics human milk data and investigate associations between and among milk cannabinoid concentrations, substance use patterns, selected maternal characteristics, and milk proteome, metabolome, and lipidome profiles;

  • Contribute to and lead co-authored papers;

  • Present work at a national and/or international meeting;

  • Assist with managing a research team;

  • Mentor undergraduate and graduate students working on the project.

Search More Jobs
 

article3 Tips to Avoid Job Search Burnout  

Job searching can feel like a marathon, especially if you’ve been at it for weeks or even months. As we close the year, we want to remind you to take time to recharge and reset from the job of job searching before you’re burnt out.

Here are three tips to help you avoid burnout while keeping your momentum and positivity going as we round out 2024.

Tip 1: Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Small Wins

  • Set a reasonable schedule for job searching and make it at a time of day that works best for you. Use this schedule to set firm boundaries and prevent burnout by “clocking out” when the day ends.

  • Keep a journal or tracker to document your job search progress so you have a visual or written record of how hard you’re working.

  • Celebrate your job search milestones, big or small, to help maintain your confidence and motivation (e.g., perfecting your resume, making a new connection, or succeeding in an interview).

Tip 2: Stay Organized and Keep Networking

  • Use tools like spreadsheets, apps, or journals to track applications, deadlines, and follow-ups. These tools will help keep you focused and feel more in control of your job search.

  • Incorporate networking, be it in person or online, to help break up your day, learn from others, and add a bit of fun to your job search!

  • Review your progress weekly to stay on top of tasks and avoid overwhelm.

Tip 3: Take Breaks and Actually Enjoy Them

  • Be sure to include breaks in your job search day to allow your brain to refocus. Remember: breaks aren’t wasted time; they build the energy you need to stay productive.

  • Allow yourself a break over the holidays and use this time to reconnect with colleagues, mentors, or friends to lift your spirits and maybe even find out about new opportunities you hadn’t considered!

Reflection and Renewal

While it might seem like companies are slowing down at the end of the year, many are preparing for the new year and may still be hiring, but if you feel like you’re on the cusp of burnout in your job search, consider stepping back and taking a break. Use this time to reassess your career goals, fine-tune your resume, or even learn a new skill to strengthen your profile.

Most importantly, don’t forget to focus on your well-being. The job market may be unpredictable, but taking care of yourself will ensure you’re ready to seize the right opportunity when it comes along.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to remember that your worth isn’t defined by your job title or the speed of your progress. Job searching is a journey that can be challenging and feel like an uphill battle, but it’s also a journey that can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

As you head into the new year, take a deep breath, keep your eyes on your goals, and know that you’re not alone in this process. Here’s to a successful and joyful 2025!

 

Want Your Job Featured in the Next Career Compass?

howto

You can get your job featured in the Career Compass newsletter by selecting this option when you post a new job! To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the ISCB Career Center.

  2. From your Profile page or My Job Posts page, click the blue “Post a Job” button.

  3. On the next page, select option 2 that mentions monthly marketing with Career Compass.

  4. Complete the required payment for the Career Compass upgrade.

  5. Fill out your job post details.

  6. Click “Submit” to post your job on the ISCB Career Center.

  7. Keep an eye out for the next Career Compass newsletter to see your job there, too!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Final Call for ISCB Fellow Nominations

The nomination deadline for the ISCB 2025 Fellows is November 18, 2024 06:00 AM EST.

Endorser submissions are due no later than January 06, 2025 06:00 AM EST.

Details of the review process can be found here.

Nominations Page
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Career Compass Featured Jobs featured

Director of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics director
Institute for Protein Innovation, Boston, Massachusetts

Job description: The Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI)is a nonprofit research organization advancing protein science to accelerate research and improve human health. Founded in 2017 and located in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, the Institute’s three-pronged strategy is to build protein tools, conduct related internal research and develop educational programs for the protein science and biological research communities.

With a significant endowment, IPI uniquely combines the freedom of academia with the high throughput and scale of industry to take on transformative projects. IPI has built a robust platform for discovering, developing, and distributing synthetic antibodies and other protein tools to share with the biomedical community. The Institute's deep protein expertise, collaborative spirit and research tools are powering new biomedical and therapeutic discoveries with a growing community of researchers at Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital and other institutions across Greater Boston and beyond.

Purpose
The Director of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics will lead and manage the computational biology and bioinformatics team. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing computational strategies to support cutting-edge research and development in the fields of protein science, antibody discovery, proteomics, systems biology, scientific databases, machine learning, and others. This role will involve collaboration with cross-functional teams to drive the discovery and development of novel molecules, technologies, and scientific publications. This individual will be a key member of IPI's scientific leadership team.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

  1. Lead and mentor a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.

  2. Develop and execute strategic plans for the computational biology and bioinformatics group aligned with the organization’s goals.

  3. Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful project delivery.

  4. Work closely with other departments to ensure computational support for various research and development projects. This group will initially support IPI's research platforms, internal databases, and external product catalogs of antigens and antibodies.

  5. Drive the development of new computational tools, pipelines, and platforms to enhance data analysis capabilities. These include but are not limited to in vitro antibody discovery data, protein biophysical characterization, proteomic analysis, and others.

  6. Ensure the integration and analysis of large datasets to generate actionable biological insights.

  7. Collaborate with experimental scientists, data scientists, and other stakeholders to design and interpret experiments, providing data-driven recommendations.

  8. Communicate complex computational analyses and results to both technical and non-technical audiences.

  9. Stay current on the latest advancements in computational biology and bioinformatics and incorporate relevant technologies and methodologies.

  10. Promote adopting best practices in data management, reproducibility, and collaborative research.

 

Faculty Biostatistics & Epidemiology – Collaborator for the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health brain
Cleveland Clinic

Job description: The Cleveland Clinic Department of Quantitative Health Sciences has a faculty opening, at the Cleveland Ohio Main Campus, for an early to mid-career biostatistician with interest in a long-term commitment to lead biostatical collaborations with Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (LRCBH). The center is dedicated to the care of patients with memory loss, dementia and other cognitive/behavioral disorders of aging, the pursuit of a better understanding of the underlying pathobiology of these disorders, and the development of more effective treatments. The center is located on the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The LRCBH is home to the NIA sponsored Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC) and has a Research Center of Excellence designation by the Lewy Body Dementia Association. The research budget at the center is over 25 million dollars.

The primary need for the next five-eight years is for the statistical expert to be able to leverage multiplex analyte platforms, proteomic data, and MRI/PET imaging along with clinical variables to help develop data driven disease progression models and risk assessment. The successful candidate will lead biostatistical design and analysis for observational studies and clinical trials. Additional expertise in one or more of the following areas would be desirable: novel clinical trial design, developing computational pipelines for high-dimensional data analysis, modelling multidimensional datasets, machine learning, omics analyses, longitudinal modeling, structural equations modeling, use of electronic medical record data, and adaptive network analysis. Currently the center employs one Master’s degree Biostatistician whom the new hire will oversee and mentor. LRCBH investigators seek expertise from a PhD-level scientist for addressing complex research questions in neurodegenerative disease research, database management and study design.

This is a hard-money position with no explicit requirements to obtain salary support.

The position is 70% collaboration and 30% protected time for independent research.

The position includes an appointment to the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University at rank commensurate with experience. Candidates should enjoy collaborating on and bringing creative analytic approaches to complex problems in neurodegenerative disease research and have a strong desire to publish journal articles. Excellent English written and oral communication skills are essential.

The Department of Quantitative Health Sciences has 30 faculty and over 130 members. Areas of disciplinary research application include biostatistical methods, clinical trials, population health, statistical genetics, bioinformatics, statistical computing, predictive modeling, and computational biology. For more career information see the Quantitative Health Sciences Career site.

The metropolitan and suburban areas of Cleveland comprise a population of over 3 million, rich in cultural resources and diversity. The city itself is centrally located to several other large cities and enjoys a low cost of living index. Cleveland Clinic is among the world’s largest, busiest health centers, and ranked the second-best U.S. hospital by U.S. News & World Report.

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment/affirmative action employer: Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.

We are a smoke/drug free environment.

 

Senior Postdoctoral Fellow / Staff Scientist in Quantitative Single Cell Systems Biology postdoc
Vanderbilt University, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, Tennessee

Job description: The Neuert Lab at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, is seeking a highly motivated Ph.D.-level researcher to join our team. Our lab focuses on quantitatively understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and gene regulation in single cells. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in computational and experimental single-cell biology, with a focus on signaling or transcription.

 

AI Scientist ai
HHMI Janelia, Ashburn, Virginia

Job description: The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scientist is an outstanding independent scientist who develops, implements, and executes innovative AI-based research projects in the pursuit of biological discoveries or the generation of new research tools. AI Scientists create, lead, or participate in research projects of highly variable scale, ranging from individual work to HHMI-wide strategic initiatives. The AI Scientist will work closely with scientists from across the broader HHMI community. They participate in, build, or supervise highly collaborative research teams consisting of other scientists, engineers, and technicians. We are hiring multiple AI Scientists and are open to various levels of experience.

What We Provide:

  • A competitive compensation package with comprehensive health and welfare benefits. In addition to the base salary described below, this position may also be eligible for incentive pay.

  • Generous training and travel opportunities to workshops and conferences.

  • Access to state- of- the- art computational infrastructure and extended capabilities provided through assistance from Janelia’s Support teams and Project teams.

  • A healthy work-life balance, with on-site childcare, free gyms, on-campus housing, vibrant social and dining spaces, and shuttle-bus service to Janelia from Washington, DC metro area!

  • Flexible work arrangements are available.

  • Relocation assistance provided for non-local candidates who wish to transition to the Washington, DC, metro area.

What You'll Do:

  • Plan, initiate, and rigorously execute independent or collaborative AI-based research; may oversee personnel and budgets toward this goal.

  • Perform scientific duties on new and varied problems where only general objectives are stated.

  • Explore and develop new methods, skills, and tools. Make research outputs available through peer-reviewed scientific publications, high-quality datasets, code, and applications.

  • Collaborate with other scientists, engineers, and technicians across project teams.

  • Initiate and be flexible to transfer between projects and groups as appropriate and participate in reviewing other projects and scientists and providing constructive feedback and guidance.

  • Perform advanced development work to obtain and maintain technical leadership in the field of AI.

  • Assist HHMI and Janelia leadership in planning and execution of program-wide initiatives; ensure coordination with related efforts or other projects and research areas.

  • Explore and develop new methods, skills, and tools. Make your research outputs available through peer-reviewed scientific publications, high-quality datasets, code, and applications.

  • Adhere to the highest academic, scientific, and ethical standards in all professional activities, including the responsible use of AI technologies.

Search More Jobs
 

article
A Short Guide to a Confident, Prepared Interview

When you’ve reached the interview stage of your job search, it can be equal parts exciting and nerve-racking, but by taking a few steps to prepare yourself, you’ll exude confidence and make a great impression!

Types of Interview Questions

During an interview, there are three types of questions you may be asked.

Behavioral questions will allow you to share stories about yourself and your previous workplace experiences. To best answer these, try looking up some common behavioral interview questions and use the STAR method to prepare engaging answers.

Next, situational questions are questions asked about hypothetical workplace situations. Presenting a step-by-step process of how you’d handle a hypothetical situation will show your critical, organized thinking. You can use the STAR method here, too, by relating the hypothetical situation to an experience you’ve already had and use your prepared narrative to guide your answer.

Finally, technical questions test your knowledge and expertise with job-specific tools and methods. Do a little research to be sure you’re familiar with any specific tools or methodologies prior to your interview!

Common Interview Questions

Three of the most common interview questions that are likely to be asked are:

  • Tell me about yourself.

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?

  • Why do you want to work here?

Tell me about yourself.

The easiest way to address this is to use your professional narrative to provide a compelling story about your career history. The narrative will highlight your experiences and skills, and succinctly outline your aspirations and what you offer.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When sharing your strengths, focus on two or three skills that fit the role well—especially if they’re mentioned in the job description—and for which you can provide examples. For weaknesses, choose something honest but manageable and frame your response positively: Don’t just mention a weakness, but also include what steps you’re taking to improve it. This shows self-awareness and a growth mindset.

Why do you want to work here?

Do a little research about the company and make sure to align your response with the company’s mission and values. Explain how their goals align with yours, building on your professional narrative to show why this role is a great fit for you.

Researching the Company

Along with preparing answers to common interview questions, get to know the company you’re applying to. Understanding their mission, values, and recent projects will help you tailor your responses to align with their goals, showing genuine interest and excitement for the role.

Easy research methods for learning about a company include reviewing their website and recent news, looking at employee reviews, and following the company on social platforms like LinkedIn. Social media often reveals a company’s culture and priorities, giving you insights to ask informed questions and demonstrate your interest authentically.

Final Pointers

A strong interview goes beyond your words; your tone and body language matter too. During your interview, speak clearly, maintain good posture, smile, and make eye contact to build rapport and project confidence. Afterward, follow up by sending a thank you email to express your continued enthusiasm for the opportunity to work for the company.

By taking time to prepare, you’ll be able to showcase your skills with confidence and nail your interview!

 

Want Your Job Featured in the Next Career Compass?

howto
You can get your job featured in the Career Compass newsletter by selecting this option when you post a new job! To do so, follow these steps:

1.) Sign in to the ISCB Career Center.

2.)From your Profile page or My Job Posts page, click the blue “Post a Job” button.

3.) On the next page, select option 2 that mentions the monthly marketing with Career Compass.

4.) Complete the required payment for the Career Compass upgrade.

5.) Fill out your job post details.

6.) Click “Submit” to post your job on the ISCB Career Center.

7.) Keep an eye out for the next Career Compass newsletter to see your job there, too!

 
 
 
 

ISMB/ECCB 2025
is now accepting tutorial proposals

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your expertise and contribute to a dynamic scientific programme!

Submission deadline: Thursday, December 19, 2024

Click the button below for more information on tutorial proposal submissions and other important dates.

We look forward to your submission!

Submit Here
 
 
 
 

 

 

There’s only one week left to submit your funding proposals to the ISCB Business Development and Finance Committee.

 

Review the details in the attached images below for submission requirements and instructions, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions.

 

Submission deadline: November 1, 2024

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

📣 Last call for proposals! 📣

 

This is the final week to submit your proposal for a tutorial or special session to be held at GLBIO 2025.

Submission deadline: Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Click the button below for more information about submitting a proposal.

We look forward to your submission!

Proposal Guidelines