Sr. Scientist (Temporary)

Job Description

Xaira Therapeutics, an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development, is seeking a Sr. Scientist for a temporary role. The company is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.This role involves analyzing bulk/single cell RNA-seq and other novel NGS assays to support drug discovery programs. The Sr. Scientist will collaborate with wet-lab scientists to optimize experimental design and ensure studies are statistically rigorous.Responsibilities:

• Perform QC of sequencing and alignment data.
• Conduct RNA-seq analysis using DESeq2 and other methods.
• Build and maintain bioinformatics pipelines using Bash and Nextflow.
• Apply generalized linear models (GLMs) and random effects models for differential expression analysis.
• Support diverse drug programs through computational and statistical analyses.
• Advise wet-lab scientists on experimental design.
• Develop and optimize statistical models and hypothesis tests.
• Clearly explain statistical and experimental design concepts.
• Contribute to presentations, reports, and publications.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Biostatistics, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• 2-10 years of post-graduate experience in statistical modeling and RNA-seq analysis.
• Strong proficiency in R and Python, including experience with scanpy, DESeq2, edgeR, dplyr, and tidyverse.
• Experience with bulk RNA-seq data analysis, including QC, normalization, and differential expression analysis.
• Proficiency in Bash scripting and experience with Nextflow.
• Solid understanding of generalized linear models (GLMs), random effects models, and experimental design principles.
• Strong ability to collaborate with wet-lab scientists.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience working in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting.
• Familiarity with Bayesian methods, mixed models, and hierarchical modeling.
• Proficiency in Git for version control and reproducibility.
• Familiarity with cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, GCP).
• Prior experience presenting complex computational analyses to diverse audiences.

What Xaira Therapeutics Offers:

• Opportunity to work on-site in South San Francisco or Seattle.
• Chance to contribute to innovative drug discovery programs.
• Collaborative environment with wet-lab scientists.