Scientist, Computational Biology
Palo Alto, CA$135k - $186.5kfull-timePosted 2mo ago
About the role
Two Scientist positions in Arc Institute's Computational Technology Center focusing on large-scale perturbational and single-cell datasets to generate mechanistic biological insights, with tracks in Perturb-seq / functional genomics and Neurobiology / microglia.
Responsibilities
- Conduct tertiary analyses of large-scale Perturb-seq, single-cell sequencing, multi-omic, and functional genomics datasets to identify functional relationships between genes, regulatory programs, and cellular phenotypes.
- For the Perturb-seq track: perform guide assignment, perturbation-effect estimation, and interaction modeling for pooled CRISPR screens.
- For the neurobiology/microglia track: trajectory and cell-state analysis of microglial state transitions in neurodegeneration.
- Partner with experimental teams on iterative study design, analysis, interpretation, and validation to translate computational insights into testable hypotheses.
- Collaborate with bioinformatics and data infrastructure teams to define clean handoffs from analysis to modeling.
- Contribute to Arc's Virtual Cell and Alzheimer's Disease Initiatives through data generation, analysis, visualization, and interpretation for predictive models.
- Develop reusable analysis notebooks, dashboards, software tools, benchmarks, and data resources.
- Present findings to internal stakeholders and contribute to preprints or open-source projects when opportunities arise.
- Mentor colleagues and interns and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
Qualifications
- PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, genomics, systems biology, machine learning, computer science, molecular biology, or related field, with 0–4 years postdoctoral/professional experience.
- Demonstrated track record of deriving biological insight from large-scale single-cell, perturbational, or multi-omic datasets.
- Hands-on experience with single-cell, perturbational, or multi-omic data (e.g., scRNA-seq, Perturb-seq/CRISPR screens, scATAC-seq, multiome) including tertiary analyses.
- Expertise in at least one of: (a) Perturb-seq / CRISPR screen analysis at scale; or (b) Single-cell analysis of microglia in neurodegeneration/Alzheimer's disease biology.
- Python proficiency with modern scientific computing ecosystems.
- Familiarity with reproducible computational workflows, version control, and high-performance or cloud computing environments.
- Biological intuition and ability to collaborate with experimental scientists.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with publications, preprints, open-source tools, or equivalent outputs.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary research environment.
- Minimum 3 days onsite in Palo Alto.
Skills
Required:Perturb-seq / CRISPR screen analysisSingle-cell analysisPython
Benefits
- Base salary range: $135,000 to $186,500.
- Annual discretionary bonus eligibility contingent on performance.
- Participation in Compound Cash Grant Program (CCGP) with multi-year cash grants.
- Start-date grant letter describing CCGBP terms as soon as practical.
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Arc Institute
A full-stack institute for AI and biology research.
Arc Institute is a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
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