Technical Professional - Computational Biologist / Bioinformatics Scientist (Temporary)

Requisition Id15935

Overview

The Biosciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory seeks a Technical Professional to support computational biology research within the Plant-Microbe Interfaces (PMI) Science Focus Area and the GPTgp (Generative Pretrained Transformer for Genomic Photosynthesis) project. This position focuses on developing machine learning pipelines, AI-driven scientific workflows, and data infrastructure to accelerate discovery in Populus genomics and the characterization of Populus-associated microbial communities.

The successful candidate will design and implement scalable ML frameworks for predicting microbial phenotypes and interactions from genomic data, build AI agent systems that enable researchers to interact with complex datasets through natural language, and establish robust data infrastructure supporting foundation model development. This role emphasizes the creation of reusable computational

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and validate machine learning pipelines for predicting microbial phenotypes (e.g., carbon utilization, growth characteristics) and microbial interactions from genomic features, with emphasis on generalizable frameworks applicable across bacterial collections
• Architect and implement AI agent workflows using large language models, including tool-calling patterns, multi-agent orchestration, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems for scientific applications
• Build programmatic APIs and natural language interfaces that enable researchers to query, retrieve, and analyze Populus genomic data and associated microbial genome collections
• Design and implement data lakehouse architecture, including schema design, data modeling, and ETL pipeline development for multi-modal genomic and phenotypic datasets
• Develop reproducible computational workflows for genome annotation and omics data processing of Populus and Populus-associated microbes, optimized for high-performance computing environments
• Analyze biological sequencing data including 16S amplicon, metagenomics, and RNA-seq datasets to support plant-microbe research objectives
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and technical reports; present research at scientific conferences
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and domain scientists to translate research questions into computational solutions
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field, with 2+ years of relevant postdoctoral or professional experience
• Proficiency in Python and experience with scientific computing and ML libraries (e.g., NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch)
• Demonstrated experience building end-to-end machine learning pipelines, from feature engineering through model evaluation and deployment
• Experience analyzing high-throughput sequencing data (16S, metagenomics, or transcriptomics)
• Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools and containerization for reproducible analysis pipelines
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with a track record of scientific publications or technical documentation
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing LLM-powered applications using frameworks such as LangChain, including agent design, tool integration, and prompt engineering
• Experience with data lakehouse technologies, particularly Delta Lake, for managing large-scale scientific datasets
• Background in genotype-to-phenotype prediction or microbial trait modeling
• Background in REST API development and database management (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
• Proficiency with HPC environments and job schedulers (e.g., SLURM)
• Experience with deep learning frameworks and neural network architectures
• Familiarity with plant genomics, microbial genomics, or plant-microbe systems

Special Requirements:

• This is a temporary 6-month position. The appointment length will be up to 6 months. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.