Position Description
Join our team of researchers, engineers, and designers to shape the future of biomedical research!
The Gehlenborg Lab in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School is funded to develop data visualization tools and user interfaces for multiple national and international cell atlas projects such as the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP), the Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet), the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN), the Kidney Precision Medicine Network (KPMP), and the Human Cell Atlas (HCA).
You will participate in the full software development life cycle for the cell atlas projects that we are involved in such as the HuBMAP Data Portal ( Under the guidance of more senior developers on our team, you will implement client-side user interfaces and visualization tools using state of the art web development technologies. Your primary focus will be on developing user interface components and implementing them following well-known React.js workflows. You will ensure that these components and the overall application are robust and easy to maintain. You will coordinate with teams working on different layers of the infrastructure. You will be using automated testing, CI/CD, packaging, and documentation techniques to ensure high quality of our software.
We value diversity, creativity, and initiative in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary work environment. The Gehlenborg Lab has an international reputation for creating high-impact data visualization tools and we are driven to solve the most challenging design and engineering problems in biomedical data science. We would love to have you on our team!
Typical Core Duties:
- Participate fully in software development life cycle
- Implement and support technical solutions to deliver business requirements
- Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve services
- Contribute ideas to coding best practices and new technologies
- Draw on relationship and technical skills to act as technical liaison to internal and external clients
- Abide by and follow the Harvard University IT technical standards, policies, and Code of Conduct
Basic Qualifications
- Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Ability to produce high-quality code in JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Python, and shell scripting languages
- Working knowledge of automated testing approaches, ranging from granular unit tests to functional tests of entire applications, using tools such as Jest, Cypress, and Pytest
- Hands-on experience with GitHub or other collaborative version control systems
- Building reusable UI components and ensure that the UI components adhere to design guidelines
- Experience with CSS and React design patterns and libraries e.g. Webpack, MaterialUI, Styled Components, or Storybook is highly preferred
- Experience with browser-based debugging and performance testing software
- Familiarity with search engines (e.g., Lucene/Elasticsearch) is desirable
- Experience with data visualization, data portals, or software development in support of academic research is desirable
- Familiarity with development of Python or R software packages, server-side components, and data-processing scripts (regular expressions/JSON schema) is helpful
- Understanding of basics of molecular biology and biomedical research is helpful but not required
Certificates and Licenses
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred
Working Conditions
The Gehlenborg Lab is using a hybrid workplace model and this position can be fully remote, hybrid, or in-person.
Additional Information
This is a one-year term position with strong potential for renewal. This position is based in Boston, but the work may be done primarily remote. Any remote work must be performed in a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (CA*, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA). Individual flexible and remote work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process. *Note: Harvard employees working in California must be exempt.
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.
The Harvard Medical School is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Not ready to apply? Join our talent community to keep in touch and learn about future opportunities!
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Job Function
Information Technology
Department Office Location
USA - MA - Boston
Job Code
I0757P Applications Professional III
Work Format
Remote
Department
Biomedical Informatics
Sub-Unit
-
Time Status
Full-time
Salary Grade
057
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Pre-Employment Screening
Identity
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture of faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations. We appreciate and leverage the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals. Harvard Medical School Mission and Community Values
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
#J-18808-Ljbffr