Chief, Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch

Job Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as the Chief, Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch (CGBB), Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology (CBIIT).  The NCI is the principal agency of the Federal Government for cancer research and for carrying out the National Cancer Program.  CBIIT accelerates cancer research by empowering scientists and clinicians with the data and informatics tools they need to drive their research and ensures research data are optimally managed, and the right technologies are available when needed.  The CBIIT Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch (CGBB) provides computational genomics and bioinformatics support to National Cancer Institute (NCI) and cancer research community. CGBB collaborates with many government agencies including Food and Drug Administration (FDA), department of defense (DOD), Veteran administration (VA) as well as academic centers, biotech and biopharma. CGBB develops algorithms, software tools, and AI models to integrate genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data providing cutting-edge bioinformatics approaches to analyze and interpret large-scale cancer data. By leveraging data mining and high-performance computing, the team advances drug discovery, disease modeling, and systems biology, enhancing scientific understanding and creating innovative healthcare solutions to fight cancer.  For more information about CBIIT, go to https://datascience.cancer.gov/about.

The Chief, CGBB, provides strategic direction and scientific advisory services on planning, directing, implementing, and evaluating computational genomics and bioinformatics support of national and international significance.  The Branch Chief oversees and supervises the CGBB team to integrate and interpret large datasets generated by high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, including whole-genome, whole-exome, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and other proteogenomic data. The CGBB Chief is responsible for planning, directing, implementing, and enabling biological interpretation from many computational projects within CBIIT, the NCI and with external collaborators. In addition, the Branch Chief has the following responsibilities:

  • Provide strategic direction in data science, leveraging cutting-edge multi modal AI, bioinformatics, and Cloud Computing to fully utilize the CGBB and other NCI resources, maximizing the impact on oncology research and care.
  • Provide subject matter expertise to trans-NCI and trans-NIH committees and investigators (both intramurally and extramurally) in computational biology and bioinformatics.
  • Establish and maintain a robust training program for the NCI intramural scientific community on bioinformatics and computational genomics tools, enabling researchers to analyze, integrate, and interpret large datasets. 
  • Evaluate and acquire software tools to meet the needs of collaborators at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including coordinating with various stakeholders to align software capabilities with research objectives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Institute's scientific endeavors.
  • Oversee a staff of six Federal employees as well as contractors assigned to support the Branch with a combined budget exceeding $1M.
  • Represent the NCI as an invited speaker/lecturer at peer-reviewed national and international meetings showcasing scientific results and resources available at the NCI in CGBB and CBIIT.
  • Collaborate and participate in high performance and cloud computing initiatives involving HHS and beyond, including the STRIDES initiative (https://datascience.nih.gov/strides), NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science and related partnerships.

The successful candidate will be an innovative leader on a broad range of evolving bioinformatics and translational informatics and related emerging technologies as applied to cancer research.   

Position Qualifications: 

  • Candidate must possess a doctoral level degree in biomedicine or a biological related field, or a medical degree, or a doctoral or master’s level degree in engineering, bioinformatics, or a related or emerging field.
  • Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Candidate must meet U.S. Office of Personnel Management educational and qualification standards for the scientific discipline directly related to their position and must furnish proof that they meet all educational (i.e., official transcripts) and other (e.g. licensure, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)) requirements).
  • Extensive knowledge and experience in the application of concepts, practices, requirements, policies of bioinformatics and translational informatics, and related emerging technologies for cancer research.
  • Experience leveraging high performance computing and cloud platforms; recommending digital solutions using predictive modeling and analytics; coordinating biomedical informatics and emerging technology programs; and designing bioinformatic workflows to integrate and analyze data from emerging biomedical technologies.
  • Leadership experience in supervising staff, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and overseeing complex biomedical informatics contracts.
  • Experience in leading multidisciplinary groups in developing bio informatics and translational informatics strategies and initiatives. 
  • Experience in establishing successful partnerships with a broad range of agencies and non-federal organizations.
  • Leadership experience in managing a highly visible national bioinformatics and translational informatics research program is highly desirable.

Required Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. Candidates must indicate their U.S. citizenship status on their CV or within their email application submission.

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must possess either a doctoral-level degree in biomedicine or a biological related field, or a master's level or higher degree in:

  • engineering
  • bioinformatics
  • or an emerging or related scientific field.

In addition, candidates must have at least one year of experience related to the position, including achievements in one or more of the following areas to demonstrate the individual has received recognition as an expert in the field:

  • Conducted original biomedical research published in peer-reviewed journals of high stature
  • Received major prizes and awards (such as visiting professorships and named lectureships) in recognition of original contributions to biomedical research
  • Received invitations to speak at or chair major national or international meetings or symposia
  • Elected to membership in professional societies of high stature, or
  • Meets other criteria demonstrating sufficient rigor or accomplishment in a relevant or closely related field that is necessary to the accomplishment of NIH's mission.

If you are a current Federal Title 5 employee, you must have one year of equivalent experience at the GS-14 level or above

Benefits

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency.

Foreign Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Learn more about Foreign Education.

Reasonable Accommodation

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.