Data Scientist Fellow, Bioinformatics and Image Analysis

The role

The Postdoctoral Fellow will turn data produced by an autonomous laboratory into actionable results. This person will build and run image analysis and bioinformatics pipelines to provide quantitative readouts for an autonomous loop.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain automated image analysis pipelines for Cytation 9 images.
• Define and validate metrics to describe culture state and growth for autonomous system decision inputs.
• Deliver analysis results back to the workflow orchestration layer in machine-readable form.
• Collect, clean, and align environmental monitoring data with imaging results.
• Apply and develop statistical, machine learning, and deep learning methods for image and multimodal data.
• Integrate downstream omics data and link it to image-derived phenotypes.
• Work with data engineers to store, version, and find images and metadata in line with FAIR principles.
• Publish methods and results, present to NIAID and collaborators, and document pipelines.
• Train staff to use analysis tools.

Required qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in bioinformatics, computational biology, biomedical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related quantitative field, normally completed within the last fiv
• Demonstrated experience analyzing microscopy or other biological image data, including segmentation and quantitative feature extraction.
• Strong Python, including scientific and imaging libraries (NumPy, SciPy, pandas, scikit-image, or similar).
• At least one machine learning framework (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar).
• Strong grounding in statistics and experimental design, and experience validating analysis methods.
• Experience with Git and reproducible analysis practices.
• Experience working in a Linux or high-performance computing environment.
• A record of research output, such as peer-reviewed publications, preprints, or released software.
• Ability to work in a close, iterative partnership with an automation engineer and biologists.
• Ability to obtain and maintain NIH/HHS security clearance and meet federal contractor suitability requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with high-content or live-cell imaging systems, especially Agilent BioTek Cytation or Gen5 software.
• Experience with image analysis tools such as CellProfiler, Cellpose, StarDist, napari, or ImageJ/Fiji, and with deep learning methods for segmentation and classification.
• Experience with stem cell, iPSC, organoid, or tissue culture systems and their imaging.
• Experience with time-series or multimodal analysis, including sensor and environmental monitoring data.
• Experience with self-driving laboratories, active learning, or Bayesian optimization.
• Experience with single-cell omics analysis (scRNA-seq) and with workflow tools such as Nextflow or Snakemake.
• Familiarity with laboratory orchestration software such as MADSci, and with Docker or Kubernetes.
• Experience with high-performance computing environments (for example, NIH Biowulf).

Benefits

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401K match up to 5%
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare (FSA), Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK), Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP), Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Before you apply

• Ability to obtain and maintain NIH/HHS security clearance and meet federal contractor suitability requirements.

About the company

Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad.