Research Associate, Bioinformatics (Contract)

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Founded through Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, Terrana Biosciences is a cutting-edge agricultural biotechnology company developing innovative RNA-based products to address global agricultural challenges. We are committed to advancing sustainable farming solutions through precision technologies that ensure environmental safety and regulatory compliance.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a Contract Research Associate, Bioinformatics to support our Computational Biology & Data Science (CBDS) team by analyzing and interpreting large-scale biological data in close collaboration with experimental scientists. In this role, you will process next-generation sequencing data (e.g., RNA-seq, small RNA-seq), contribute to the development and automation of bioinformatics pipelines, and help translate experimental results into actionable insights. This 4 month contract (30 hours a week) offers hands-on experience with industry-standard tools, data workflows, and cross-functional research in genomics, molecular biology, and synthetic biology. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career scientist transitioning from an academic or co-op setting into an industry-focused research environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with CBDS scientists to process, analyze, and interpret next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including RNA-seq and/or small RNA-seq.
• Assist in the development and automation of bioinformatics pipelines using Python, R, or workflow management systems like Snakemake or Nextflow.
• Perform data quality control, alignment, quantification, and differential expression analysis.
• Help curate internal datasets and contribute to data visualization and reporting to cross-functional teams.
• Participate in regular team meetings, journal clubs, and code reviews to grow technically and scientifically.
• Collaborate with wet lab scientists to translate experimental results into actionable insights. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Science, Computer Science, Biology, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience in analyzing high-throughput sequencing data.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis and scripting.
• Familiarity with tools such as FASTQC, STAR, HISAT2, Bowtie2, samtools, DESeq2, or similar.
• Experience working in a Linux/Unix environment and using version control (e.g., Git). 

Preferred: 

• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS, GCP) or containerization tools (Docker, Singularity).
• Interest in or exposure to machine learning and/or large language models (LLMs) in biological contexts.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams. 

LOCATION:  Cambridge, MA

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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The pay range for this role is $34 - $36 per hour and the contractor will be employed by a third-party staffing company. Certain employee benefits may be available to the contractor through the staffing company after meeting minimum criteria. Compensation and benefits information is based on Terrana Biosciences, Inc.'s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.