Company Description

Variant Bio is a Seattle-based startup that is developing therapies to improve global health by studying the genes of people who are outliers for medically relevant traits. We recently completed our Series A raise and are entering a rapid growth phase. Variant Bio was started because we believe that human genetics has the power to transform drug development. To facilitate this, we have built proprietary genomics and phenotyping platforms that allow us to dramatically reduce the cost of genomic studies and identify genetically-validated targets for therapeutic development.

All of our studies are co-designed with local partners: community groups, academics, and hospitals around the world, and we built Variant Bio from the ground up with ethics at its foundation. We recognize the contribution of our partners through an industry leading benefit-sharing program that dedicates 4% of our revenue and equity value to support local healthcare, sustainable development, education, research, and capacity-building initiatives.

Job Description

We are looking for a Population Geneticist who will significantly expand the scope and scale of our partnerships around the world. The ideal candidate is a creative thinker who can contribute to an early startup in project identification, design, and data interpretation. The candidate is passionate about human history, evolution, and genetics and is not intimidated by constant research and learning. The candidate will advise on, design, and lead projects covering South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Our current projects cover areas of positive adaptation to various environmental conditions and their health implications, as well as disease research - kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Responsibilities

- Work closely with biological anthropologists to identify populations with histories that drive unique genetic architectures and phenotypes. - Identify and set up collaborations around the world on human subject studies. - Work closely with ethicists and cultural anthropologists to consult and co-design the studies together with partner communities. - Supervise local genotyping and phenotyping campaigns. - Analyze genetic data to understand population history and structure. - Effectively communicate scientific results to local researchers, community members, and at scientific conferences.

Qualifications

- Ph.D. in genetics, evolutionary biology, or statistics, having done research on population genetics, statistical genetics, or a related field with a relevant dissertation. - Strong hands-on population genetics experience, including analyzing genomic datasets from humans or other species, inferring patterns of population structure and demographic history, estimating patterns of relatedness and/or detecting loci under selection. - Strong conceptual background in the principles of population and statistical genetics. - Experience designing and managing human subject studies outside of North America and Europe. - Independent, creative, detail-orientated, and a critical thinker. - Compelled by the company’s mission of great science, a strong ethical stance, and benefit sharing. - Computational proficiency, including fluency in bash, R, and Python and/or other scripting languages (preferred). - Sense of humor.

Perks

- Opportunity to be part of an early-stage startup entering a rapid growth phase. - Competitive, industry leading salary, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability and life insurance. - 401(k) plan that includes an automatic 3% employer contribution. - Ability to work remotely until it is safe to return to the office. - Centrally located Eastlake location in a new Alexandria building with modern facilities, including a gym.

Please email your CV and a cover letter highlighting your background and skills to [email protected] with the subject line “RE: Population Geneticist.”