BCMM Computational Hub – Research Assistant (Junior/Assistant Specialist) Part-time

BCMM Computational Hub – Research Assistant (Junior/Assistant Specialist)

The Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine (BCMM) is seeking a motivated Junior/Assistant Specialist to join our Computational Hub and contribute to both new and ongoing projects. This position will be part-time (60% FTE) and open to in-person, hybrid, and remote candidates.

BCMM is dedicated to advancing human microbiome research, with a strong focus on accelerating discovery and translation in early-life microbiome science and therapeutic development.

The Research Assistant will provide support microbiome research by delivering analysis expertise to investigators across UCSF. Projects facilitated through the Computational Hub span diverse disciplines and include experimental design consultation, bioinformatics analysis of sequencing data (16S rRNA, ITS2, shotgun metagenomics, dual RNA-Seq), and biostatistical analysis of high-dimensional datasets.

In this role, the candidate will assist with data management, pipeline testing, and report generation across diverse data types. The position requires close collaboration with computational biologist to ensure timely analysis and to develop novel computational tools addressing challenges in microbiome research. Candidates should be able to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary team. Preference will be given to those with demonstrated strengths in communication, teamwork, and contributions to manuscripts or reports. This role also offers opportunities to collaborate on scientific publications, along with tailored professional development to support career growth.

Required Qualifications:

• B.Sc. or higher in bioinformatics, biostatistics, or a related discipline
• Experience applying bioinformatic and statistical tools to analyze omics datasets (e.g., microbiomics, transcriptomics, and/or clinical data)
• Ability to prepare high-quality data visualizations, reports, and presentations for publications and stakeholders
• Strong data management skills with accuracy, persistence, and attention to detail
• Ability to work across multiple projects in a collaborative research environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years of experience in academia or industry working with omics data
• Strong background in bioinformatics, biostatistics, and data visualization
• Proficiency in R and/or Python, and Bash scripting; experience with SQL and large datasets is preferred
• Prior experience with microbiome data analysis (e.g., 16S, shotgun metagenomics) is highly desirable
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Self-motivated, well-organized, and able to work independently

Salary range for this position is $55,000-$70,700.