Postdoctoral Associate - The Huttenhower Lab

General information

Location

Cambridge, MA

Ref #

44094

Job Family

Research

Workplace

On-Site

Date published

04/29/2026

Time Type

Full time

Pay Range

$70,000.00/yr - $92,666.67/yr

Description & Requirements

The Huttenhower lab at the Broad Institute and the Departments of Biostatistics and Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is seeking one or more postdoctoral fellows. The successful candidate(s) will work broadly in microbiome population studies and molecular multi-omics, with specifics to be determined by individual interest and experience.

Funded projects with open positions include:

• Computational methods development and consortium data management for the Human Virome Program, with the mandate to characterize viral (phage and eukaryotic) communities across the human body in health and disease.
• Application of virome analysis methods in the colorectal cancer microbiome at global epidemiological population scale.
• Integration host and microbiome multi-omics for early-onset colorectal cancer biomarker development and prevention.
• Longitudinal modeling of infant microbiome trajectories in healthy populations as compared to autism and related neurodevelopmental phenotypes, as part of the Wellcome Leap FORM consortium.

The incumbent will be an integral member of our group, working alongside postdocs, research staff, and students, as well as with collaborators and established software development teams. Our interdisciplinary lab represents a convergence of microbial

ecology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, molecular microbiology, computer science, and software development.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (*Essential Functions)

• Facility with analytical methods for microbiome data, particularly computational approaches for metagenomic and metatranscriptomic profiling, multi-omic integration (e.g. with metabolomics or genetics), and their application in population studies.

• Familiarity with computational environments for 'omics data manipulation (command line, Python, R, etc.)
• Deep knowledge in at least one relevant subdiscipline, i.e. bioinformatics, microbiology, microbial ecology, biostatistics, epidemiology, nutrition, immunology, or similar.
• Presentation of results to collaborators, local, national, and international scientific audiences comprising broad backgrounds (quantitative, computational, and biological).
• Optional mentoring and/or teaching opportunities in the context of Ph.D. students from the Harvard Chan School / Harvard Medical School, junior scientists, and Harvard and public guest lectures and short course workshops.
• Regular interaction with internal and external contacts, including Harvard scientists, collaborators, students, postdocs, and external clinicians and industry leaders.
• Collaboration with teams of students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty associated with both the Huttenhower lab and with the broader Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center on microbiome bioactive discovery and translation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 0+ years of post-graduate experience

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Molecular Biology, Computer Science, Biostatistics or related fields. Some experience with microbiome, microbiological, or molecular 'omics preferred.
• Familiarity with methods for high-throughput sequence analysis, ideally microbial community metagenomics and/or microbial genetics.
• Excellent record of scientific contributions, publications, and presentations; primary or key author on one or more major presentations and papers.
• Must be able to handle a variety of tasks, to effectively solve problems with numerous and complex variables, and to shift priorities rapidly.
• Demonstrated success in working on complex, novel research problems in a collegial environment.
• Creativity, curiosity, and the desire, persistence and ability to create scientific advances in human microbiome science.

The expected base pay range for this position as listed above is based on a 40 hour per week schedule. Broad provides pay ranges representing its reasonable and good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will vary based on factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, education, qualifications, and other factors permissible by law.

At Broad, your base pay is just one part of a comprehensive total rewards package. From day one, this role offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and health savings accounts; at least 13 paid holidays; winter closure; paid time off; parental and family care leave; and an employee assistance program, among other Broad benefits.

The Broad Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Should you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [email protected] for assistance.