Bioinformatics Research Associate III - AFRL

• Analyze next-generation sequencing (NGS), metagenomic, transcriptomic, genomic, and microbiome datasets to identify known, novel, and emerging pathogens.
• Perform quality control, preprocessing, assembly, taxonomic classification, annotation, and comparative genomic analyses of sequencing data.
• Integrate laboratory-generated data with computational workflows to support pathogen discovery, surveillance, and characterization efforts.
• Develop and optimize computational methods, algorithms, and analytical workflows for broad-spectrum biological threat detection.
• Interpret complex biological datasets and generate actionable insights for research, public health, biodefense, and diagnostic applications.
• Collaborate with laboratory scientists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and data scientists to support multidisciplinary research initiatives.
• Conduct phylogenetic, evolutionary, and population genomic analyses to assess pathogen diversity, transmission, and emergence.
• Create data visualizations, dashboards, and reports to communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Manage, curate, and organize large-scale biological datasets while ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and traceability.
• Support method validation, benchmarking, and performance evaluation of bioinformatics tools and analytical pipelines.
• Develop scripts and software tools for automation of data processing, analysis, and reporting workflows.
• Prepare technical reports, scientific manuscripts, presentations, and sponsor deliverables.

Maintain compliance with data security, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements related to biological research.

• Stay current with emerging bioinformatics tools, sequencing technologies, computational methods, and pathogen surveillance strategies.

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Bioinformatics Research Associate III to conduct computational analysis of complex genomic, metagenomic, and transcriptomic datasets to support pathogen-agnostic characterization of known, novel, and emerging biological agents. Develops and maintains bioinformatics pipelines, performs advanced data interpretation and visualization, and collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams to enable biological threat detection, surveillance, and characterization in support of public health, biodefense, and scientific research initiatives.

This position will be in support of Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring, and Sustaining (CHEERS) program. The CHEERS program is a Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM). CHEERS is designed to provide a comprehensive strategy for AFRL and USAFSAM's range of Science and Technology (S&T) and Studies and Analysis (S&A), enabling progression from basic research through technology maturation and transition. The program focuses on human-centered research to:

• Enable, sustain, enhance, and restore the health, performance, and readiness of multi-domain Airman.
• Integrate biological and cognitive technologies to optimize and protect Airman capabilities in Fly, Fight, and Win across Air, Space, and Cyberspace

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.