Assistant Professor in Computational Data or Biology/Bioinformatics

Howard University

Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA) 

Minority Health Analysis Cluster (MHAC) 

Assistant Professor in Computational Data or Biology/Bioinformatics

The School of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences invites applications for the Minority Health Analysis Cluster (MHAC). Howard University has established the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA) and initiated the process to integrate diverse data science clusters to form part of it. Each cluster will consist of 2 to 3 faculty, who will be part of an effort to expand Howard’s research and instructional footprint in the areas of Minority Health and Health Disparities; Social Justice; Environmental Justice; and Economic Empowerment. 

The Minority Health Analysis Cluster (MHAC) is one of the approved clusters and will consist of one Computational Data Scientist and two experts in Biology/Bioinformatics who will be appointed in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Biology. Research activities will be centered around Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The MHAC invites applications for full-time, tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level.

Starting in the fall of 2023, the individuals serving in these positions will be responsible for supporting the instructional, research, and service components of their corresponding departments. Successful candidates are expected to develop vigorous, extramurally funded research programs in their areas of expertise, actively participate in online and in-person teaching and curriculum development at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Evidence of interest and success in mentoring underrepresented students is highly desired. It should also be noted that each individual hired through this initiative is expected to devote at least 40 percent of their faculty effort to CADSA activities, which may correspond to a combination of research and instructional activities. The exact effort contribution may vary for each faculty hire and will be negotiated between the faculty hire, his/her departmental chair and the CADSA director.

Howard University, a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research intensive and historically Black private university, provides an educational experience of exceptional quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels to students of high academic standing and potential, with particular emphasis upon educational opportunities for Black students. Howard University is currently classified as an R2 research university with aspirations and actions underway to achieve R1 status in the next Carnegie classification cycle. It is a residential campus of approximately 13,000 students located in the heart of the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

COMPUTATIONAL DATA SCIENCE:

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field with experience in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence methods in Data Science.
• Excellent knowledge of programming languages R, Python and C++ and experience in their use in Data Science.
• Demonstrable experience in teaching programming languages and concepts and data structures as well a mentoring undergraduate students and collaborating with graduate students to carry out Data Science projects.
• Experience in developing bioinformatics software and databases, storage of collected data and the development of new data analysis tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across teams. Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary research.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicants should have a deep knowledge of and interest in numerical analysis, computational science, particularly in the fields of modeling, simulation, and high-performance computing.
• Experience in managing and analyzing datasets related to SCD and CKD.
• Experience in Image Processing to analyze biomedical images with the state-of-art tools such as convolutional neural networks. 
• Working knowledge of the TOPMed datasets from NHLBI.

BIOLOGY/BIOINFORMATICS:

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD in Biology or related area with postdoctoral research experience in cellular and molecular biology with specific training in bioinformatics data analysis for next-generation sequencing (NGS), including RNA-seq and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
• Demonstrable teaching experience at undergraduate and graduate level in the biology, bioinformatics area.
• Experience of supervising undergraduate students and graduate students.
• Experience using computer languages (R, Python, Perl etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary research.
• At least three recent first or senior author publications and demonstrated ability to acquire independent funding  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of SCD and CKD is a plus. 
• Experience with using Biodata Catalyst ecosystem to perform data analysis.
• Working knowledge of the TOPMed dataset from NHLBI.

Complete applications consist of a single PDF file containing the following:

1) Cover letter, considering the expectations listed above;

2) Current curriculum vita;

3) Two-page statement of research accomplishments, interests and future plans;

4) One-page statement of teaching experience and philosophy; and

5) Names and contact information for at least three references who will provide letters upon request from the search committee.

Completed applications should be addressed to the chair of the search committee submitted electronically to datascience@howard.edu with the email subject header “HUDS Minority Health Analysis Cluster Hire.” Screening will begin immediately and end on January 27. The desired starting date is August 1, 2023.

Howard University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, religion, disability or protected veterans' status. Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities or veterans' status, Equal Employment Opportunity and Title IX should be directed to the Office of Employee Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-806-1280.