Computational Biology Specialist – Metagenomics

Guidehouse

Computational Biologist supporting metagenomic projects for NIH. Collaborating with researchers and providing expertise in computational biology.

Posted 7/22/2026full-timeRemote • Maryland • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $98,000 - $163,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in computational biology and bioinformatics, with a strong focus on metagenomics methods, high-throughput data processing, and the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively to diverse audiences. Proficient in developing and implementing algorithms and tools for data analysis and visualization, while maintaining a collaborative approach in scientific research.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Masters Or Ph.D. In Computational BiologyExperience In Metagenomic Data AnalysisProficiency In UNIX/Linux And ScriptingStrong Interpersonal And Communication SkillsFamiliarity With High-Throughput Metagenomic Technologies

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Metagenomics Methods DevelopmentBioinformatics AlgorithmsData Analysis And VisualizationStatistical Analysis TechniquesHigh-Throughput SequencingFunctional And Taxonomic AnnotationScripting In Python, R, BashOpen-Source Bioinformatics ApplicationsParallel Computing EnvironmentsMetagenomic File Types Analysis

Soft Skills

Problem-Solving SkillsTime Management SkillsInterpersonal SkillsPresentation SkillsWritten And Oral Communication Skills

Tools & Technologies

QIIME2MetaPhlanMEGANKrakenDADA2USEARCHSLURMGitHubGgplotsMaASLin2

Certifications & Qualifications

Federal Or DoD Public Trust

Industry Keywords

Computational BiologyBioinformaticsMetagenomicsMicrobial EcologyHigh-Throughput Data ProcessingCommunity Analyses ToolsMetagenomic DatabasesScientific CollaborationsResearch PublicationsData Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxPythonUnix

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The successful candidate will work cooperatively with the current computational biology specialists to: Implement, design, develop, and innovate current and emerging computational biology and bioinformatics algorithms aimed to process, analyze, manage, interpret and visualize original scientific data
Enter into scientific collaborations with physicians and scientists that include the potential for authorships and acknowledgements in publications
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD “public trust”; candidates must receive approved adjudication prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an active public trust or suitability are preferred.
Gather detailed information from stakeholders and identify existing tools or develop novel algorithms/tools for performing custom and novel analyses
Develop, maintain, document, and deliver training materials and sessions that support collaborators and researchers in applying metagenomics methods and high-throughput data processing workflows.
Research, design, and deliver educational materials that promote broader adoption and effective use of computational biology techniques, tools, and software among NIH researchers.
Aid collaborators in the design of new study projects, providing advice, and guidance for sequencing methods and analytical or statistical considerations for meeting project goals
Provide researchers and collaborators with on-demand support and troubleshooting in the use of computational biology software and pipelines related to metagenomics and high-throughput sequencing
Stay current on computational biology literature, emerging technologies, methods, and tools.
Partner with software developers to develop and integrate metagenomics software solutions within enterprise platforms

Requirements

What you’ll need

Masters or Ph.D. in computational biology, microbiology, statistics or related life, physical, or computational sciences with at least TWO (2) publications demonstrating the use or development of metagenomic methods
Good understanding of high-throughput metagenomic technologies and techniques, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, molecular biology, and metagenomics software (e.g., QIIME2, MetaPhlan, MEGAN, Kraken, Ganon, HUMAnN, etc.)
Minimum of TWO (2) years experience in the analysis of large-scale metagenomic data (shotgun metagenomics, amplicon sequencing), metagenomics file types (FASTQ, SAM/BAM, biom, HDF5, etc.) and experienced with a broad spectrum of relevant open-source software or pipelines (DADA2, USEARCH, DIAMOND, Bowtie2, BioBakery, genomic assemblers, CheckM, etc.)
Experience working with relevant metagenomic databases and browsers and their annotations (SILVA, RDP, Greengenes, NCBI/RefSeq, IMG/M, GTDB, UHGG, etc)
Proficiency in the use of UNIX/Linux and its command-line environment, including scripting (Python, R, Bash, etc.) as well as experience with code repositories such as GitHub or Bitbucket
Proficiency in functional and taxonomic annotation of metagenomic data using enrichment and annotation tools (KEGG, eggNOG, InterProScan, Pfam, MetaCyc)
Experience with a high-performance parallel computing environment (e.g., SLURM, PBS, UGE)
Familiarity with community analyses tools (e.g. phyloseq etc), visualization tools (e.g. ggplots) as well as common methods in multivariate statistical analyses (linear mixed models, Bayesian approaches, differential abundance) and related tools (e.g. MaASLin2).
Strong interpersonal, presentation, written, and oral communication skills to convey computational biology principles and concepts to non-specialists in a clear and precise manner and advise on relevant software and tools with a dedication to customer satisfaction
Ability to work independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including the ability to learn and evaluate new software for metagenomics analyses quickly
Ability to concurrently work on multiple complex projects with effective time management skills, a high level of personal and professional drive and initiative, and attention to detail
Proficiency with the use of open-source bioinformatics applications employing ontologies, pathways, and/or networks, at both the individual organism and metagenomic community scales
Familiarity with problems and bottlenecks associated with storage and management of metagenomics-scale data

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Care.com annual membership
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)