Comparative Genomics Co-op

Please Submit applications by 6am on Tuesday, October 15th, 2019.

Indigo is a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. With a vision of creating a world where farming is an economically desirable and accessible profession, Indigo works alongside its growers to apply natural approaches, conserve resources for future generations, and grow healthy food for all. Utilizing beneficial plant microbes to improve crop health and productivity, Indigo’s portfolio is focused on cotton, wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, and rice. The company, founded by Flagship Pioneering, is headquartered in Boston, MA, with additional offices in Memphis, TN, Research Triangle Park, NC, Sydney, Australia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and São Paulo, Brazil. www.indigoag.com

This co-op will use computational methods to identify genes present in microbes that allow them to influence plant health. The co-op will compare the genomes of strains with different activities to find genes associated with those phenotypes. This role will require computational skills to combine and analyze data from multiple sources, run computational pipelines, and produce effective visualizations of data. This co-op should have strong knowledge and interest in microbial physiology and/or plant-microbe interactions to aid in interpretation of data and allow for participation in planning and/or execution of follow up experiments in the lab.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use Python, SQL, and other computational languages to collect, analyze, and visualize data
• Critically analyze experimental data to identify suitable datasets for comparative analyses
• Meet with scientists conducting assays to learn about assay intricacies and relevant microbial features required for assay performance
• Collect genomic data for microbes and run existing computational tools to compare their genomes
• Analyze genomic differences between microbial strains with a biological mindset to identify differences that are relevant for microbial performance
• Devise and implement novel computational analyses to identify and illustrate relevant genomic differences between microbes
• Design follow up experiments to test hypotheses developed from comparative analyses
• Accurately and concisely document work to communicate your results to others
• Understand and embody our purpose & core values
  • Excited by Indigo’s mission; believes that Indigo can fundamentally change the agriculture industry; can clearly articulate passion for our mission and values
  • Optimistic and innovative; solution-oriented; shows no signs of cynicism
  • Will be widely viewed as someone who personifies our core values, is committed to them, and leans on them when making decisions. Specifically:
    • Demonstrates a track record of high integrity - doing the right thing, owning mistakes, conducting oneself honestly
    • Values, communicates and interacts with others with high levels of transparency and respect
  • Collaborates well across functions; creates an inspiring and collegial work environment

COMPETENCIES

• Proficiency in Python strongly preferred, with some experience in SQL desired
• Experience writing clean, understandable code in environments like Jupyter Notebooks
• Experience generating visualizations of complex data using packages like Matplotlib, Seaborn, ggplot, etc
• Proven ability to look at complicated data and identify logical conclusions that can be acted upon
• Strong background knowledge in genomic data and genomic assemblies, especially as it relates to microbes
• Knowledge and fascination with how microbes work – how they generate energy, create interesting molecules, interact with their environment, etc
• A strong desire to work at the interface of computational and biological sciences
• Track record of effective professional communication of complex concepts through presentations/posters, etc
• Experience working in a biological laboratory, especially with microbes and/or plants is a plus
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with people from various scientific backgrounds

Indigo is committed to living our values, specifically “creating a work environment where everyone feels respected, connected, and has opportunities to learn and grow.” As part of living our values, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone feels they can be themselves and has an equal opportunity of succeeding.