Data Management Specialist II | Center for Human Brain Variation

DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS

The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is looking for an outstanding Data Management Specialist to provide comprehensive data management support for the Center for Human Brain Variation. The mission of the Center is to address an unmet need in cell census research: to understand the cell-type-specific mechanisms and larger tissue-level biological principles that generate meaningful variation in brain biology among people.

We are looking for a data management professional who is passionate about the mission of the Broad Institute and Center for Human Brain Variation. The ideal candidate will be highly collaborative and be prepared to lead and take direction as part of cross-functional project teams.

The candidate must be comfortable working with a high volume of single-cell datasets across multiple data management systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Advance large single-cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets through analysis workflows.
Plan and execute analytical processes by which high-volume experimental data are quickly assessed for quality.
Present key data quality metrics to scientific teams generating the data; provide regular updates to the project team at weekly lab meetings.
Communicate complex quality metrics to stakeholders with different areas of expertise; develop presentation content appropriate for a variety of audiences.
Coordinate the submission of large datasets to the appropriate data repositories (e.g., NeMO, NDA) and other key constituencies, while ensuring compliance with applicable policies such as the NIH Data Sharing Policy.
Work with project managers and researchers to ensure that single-cell libraries are tracked and reviewed for quality in NIMP (Neuroanatomy-anchored Information Management Platform).
Serve as the main point of contact for consortium data releases, working in close collaboration with other consortium members and sites.
Work with software engineers toward optimization of analysis workflows for high-data-volume experiments.
Collaborate closely with laboratory and data analysis teams to support overall project deliverables, ensuring deliverables are met on time.
Provide a variety of reports summarizing research data usage. Assist the lab’s scientific teams in utilizing disk and cloud storage in cost-efficient and time-efficient ways.
Assist the managing director with the preparation of progress reports that involve data deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics, computer science, or a related field.
1-2+ years of experience working in a high-data-volume scientific environment, including experience advancing data sets through complex analysis workflows.
Experience working with databases.
Working knowledge of at least one scripting language (e.g., Python, R).
Experience working in a Linux operating system, including working knowledge of Bash, is preferred.
Familiarity with Google Cloud and/or AWS (Amazon Web Services).
Experience with Nextflow a plus.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks thoughtfully.
Expertise in using Google Docs and Google Sheets.
Experience creating and managing reports (e.g., trend analysis, summary reports).
Familiarity with single-cell technologies is preferred; for example, understands the entire 10x workflow from sample preparation through data analysis.
Experience working with sequencing output data, including BAM and FASTQ files, is strongly preferred.
Comfortable learning new software and technologies.
Demonstrated ability to interact with an interdisciplinary group of both professional staff and academic trainees, including project managers, data analysts, computational scientists, and laboratory scientists.

This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Cambridge, MA. For full details, including pay range and benefits, see the full job posting.