Job Description

Computational Biologist

Location: On-site in Durham, NC (RTP area)
Company: Avalo
Compensation: Commensurate with experience + full benefits

About Avalo
At Avalo, we’re reinventing crop development to build a climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for agriculture. Our mission is to accelerate crop evolution using AI and evolutionary biology—cutting development time from decades to just a few years while dramatically reducing environmental impact. From low-input cotton to sugarcane, we work with nature’s complexity, not against it, to deliver high-performance crops without harmful externalities. Join us in transforming agriculture from the seed up.

About this opportunity:
We’re seeking a Computational Biologist to work with our computation team in advancing our mission to develop high-performing and resilient crops. This role will leverage the  next generation of machine learning, computational biology, imaging, and bioinformatics tools and processes to drive the development of novel crop varieties. The successful candidate will be responsible for contributing scientific knowledge, technical and problem-solving expertise, and developing innovative solutions for our Rapid Evolution Platform TM . This person should be well-organized, have great communication skills, and a passion for Avalo's mission.

Key Responsibilities:

Machine Learning & Data Science

• Develop and implement novel ML strategies for genomic and phenomic prediction, including strategies for data processing and imputation
• Design and evaluate improved methods for analysis and integration of multi-modal data
• Inform key decision making processes through effective design of computational experiments, data processing, and analysis and interpretation.
• Develop key visualizations, presentations, reports, documentation, and other materials to support cross-functional collaboration and communication of results to internal and external stakeholders.
• Champion the use of large language models in the execution of key workflows

Computational Biology

• Carry out genomics analyses
• Perform pipeline testing, benchmarking, and troubleshooting
• Support development and maintenance of new and existing bioinformatic pipelines
• Implement novel methods for integrating genomic data with phenotypes, imagery (e.g. satellite/drone), spectral, environmental, and weather data. 
• Support external collaborations for strategic projects
• Participate in cross-team development projects
• Collaborate with a team of innovators to develop novel technologies with direct application to crop improvement. 

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in computational biology, computer science, data science, or a related field
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Broad and deep understanding of AI/ML in genetics/genomics
  • Standard alignment and preprocessing tools in computational biology
  • Experience with analysis of complex spatial and temporal data structures
  • Experience with tools for pangenome analysis, reference-free approaches, ancestral recombination graphs, and/or other modern techniques for evolutionary genomics 
  • Applications of statistical frameworks and models to crop breeding and agriculture
• Demonstrated excellence in scientific productivity through either peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals as lead contributor, variety releases, and/or authorship on patents
• High proficiency with one or more scripting languages including Python
• Experience developing and using workflow management systems such as Nextflow
• Managing and running computational analyses in the cloud and on HPCs
• Experience using and building containerized applications and with environment management tools (i.e. Docker, conda)
• Proficiency with version control and collaborative software development using Git
• Experience in the use of large language models for biological workflows and/or software development
• Highly motivated and tenacious, self-starter who can work independently and proactively and is able to assimilate new information quickly in a fast-moving start-up environment
• Ability to organize among competing priorities and to transition efficiently to new and emerging priorities without mishandling or failing to deliver
• Detail oriented with the ability to see the big picture and to work effectively at both high and detailed levels with the leadership and science team
• Strong sense of responsibility and high comfort level with accountability
• Willingness and capability to contribute to tasks and responsibilities outside of their job description
• Exceptional critical thinking, data analysis, and problem solving skills; experience presenting results to influence strategy and decision making
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity and attention to detail
• Highly proficient with Microsoft and Google software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the Google equivalents), in particular spreadsheets and slide software (Canva), video conferencing software (such as Zoom, Google Meets, Teams and others), tools such as Adobe Acrobat, Notion, DocuSign, Slack, etc.
• Passion for Avalo’s mission

 

Job Tags

Full time,

Similar Jobs