Scientist II, Next-Generation Sequencing & Cell Engineering

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago (https://www.czbiohub.org/chi) is an independent nonprofit research institute that brings together three powerhouse universities - Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine. CZ Biohub itself supports some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers to make breakthroughs in medicine and develop new technologies, frequently in collaboration with our partner universities. We are guided by our values of scholarly excellence; disruptive innovation; hands-on engineering/hacking/building; partnership and collaboration; open communication and respect; inclusiveness; and opportunity for all.

Our Vision

• We pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
• We enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
• The technologies developed at CZ Biohub Chicago facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

Diversity of thought, ideas, and perspectives are at the heart of CZ Biohub Network and enable disruptive innovation and scholarly excellence. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive organization where all colleagues feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution.

The Opportunity

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago is seeking a highly-skilled scientist to develop, troubleshoot, and improve complex and novel next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in molecular biology, cell engineering, lentiviral systems, and cloning, and will collaborate closely with computational scientists and AI experts to generate high-quality data for training unique computational models.

This is a hands-on role in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities to work at the forefront of technology development and application in genomics, immunology, and AI-driven discovery.

What You'll Do

• Develop and troubleshoot novel NGS-based assays and improve existing workflows to maximize data quality and reproducibility
• Design and execute cell engineering experiments, including cloning, lentiviral transduction, CRISPR modification, and other synthetic biology techniques
• Collaborate with computational scientists and AI researchers to generate, analyze, and interpret sequencing data that will drive innovative model training
• Standardize and document protocols, ensuring reproducibility and scalability across projects
• Perform and interpret data analysis, presenting findings in lab meetings, internal seminars, and external conferences

What You'll Bring

Essential - 

• PhD (or MS + 6-8 years of research experience) in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Genomics, or a related field
• Extensive experience (5+ years) with NGS technologies, including short- and long-read sequencing
• Expertise in molecular and cell biology techniques, including cloning, CRISPR-based genome editing, lentiviral transduction, and synthetic biology
• Strong troubleshooting skills in developing and optimizing complex sequencing assays
• Ability to communicate effectively across interdisciplinary teams, including biologists, data scientists, and engineers

Nice to have -

• Proficiency in data analysis and workflow scripting tools using Python (preferred) or R
• Experience with long-read sequencing technologies (eg. Oxford Nanopore, PacBio)
• Experience with multi-omics approaches, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
• Background in high throughput screening, molecular assay development, or immunology

Compensation

The Chicago, IL base pay range for this role is $105,000.00 - $120,000.00. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. 

What We Provide 

• Resources to disrupt and innovate at the frontiers of our knowledge of biology and disease
• A collegial and collaborative environment consisting of diverse expertise
• Access to collaborators, resources and facilities at our three partner universities (Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and at partner organizations in Chicagoland and beyond
• Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with the experience

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

Benefits

We offer a robust benefits program that enables the important work Biohubbers do everyday. Our benefits include healthcare coverage, life and disability insurance, commuter subsidies, family planning services with fertility care, childcare stipend, 401(k) match, flexible time off and a generous parental leave policy. In addition, we honor our commitment to career development and our value of scholarly excellence through regular onsite opportunities to learn from the world's leading scientists.

The CZ Biohub Network is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity of thought, ideas and perspectives. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive organization where all Biohubbers feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution. Therefore, we provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. The CZ Biohub Network does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. The CZ Biohub Network will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with the CZ Biohub Network.