Vice President/Head of Genomic Discovery

Posted on by Charlie Johnson
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Job date: 2014-10-04
End Date:

Company : Autism Speaks 

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Role : Research Scientist 


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Job Description:
Vice President/Head of Genomic Discovery Northeast-based (Boston, MA; New York, NY; Princeton, NJ) Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism. Since its establishment in 2005, Autism Speaks has invested over $200 million into autism research. Autism Speaks has funded work across the entire autism research ecosystem including basic discovery neuroscience, genetic risk factors, treatment development, guidelines for medical care, etiology, assistive technology, public health and environmental science. The Vice President/Head of Genomic Discovery will provide strategic leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of existing and future programs, projects, partnerships and collaborations in the areas of human genetics, ‘omic' technologies and bioinformatics. S/he will also lead and manage existing programs and staff for the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange (AGRE) and Autism Speaks' (AS) signature science initiative, the Autism Ten Thousand Genomes (Aut10K) Program. The VP/Head of Genomic Discovery reports to the Chief Science Officer in Princeton, NJ. Responsibilities include the following:

  • Collaborate with external partners to develop a long-term strategy for future investment in the translation and/or implementation of genomic discoveries to improve the lives of individuals impacted by autism
  • Manage key external partnerships with academic, government and commercial organizations to support portfolio programs and projects (i.e., Google and the Aut10K program)
  • Develop/oversee partnerships between AS and key global research organizations (e.g., pharma industry, biotech companies, not-for-profit and governmental research organizations) nationally/internationally
  • Organize conferences, panels, workshops and scientific meetings that advance the field of basic research in autism genetics and/or application of genomic technologies
  • Manage AS' participation in key external research consortia (Autism Genome Project, Autism Sequencing Consortia) and partnerships (e.g., EU-AIMS)
  • Partner with colleagues in AS' venture philanthropy affiliate DELSIA to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in technology enterprises working in molecular testing and related ‘omics' space
  • Prepare and deliver presentations on the science mission and research highlights to lay audiences
  • Advise CSO, Senior Leadership and Board of Directors on advances in genomics research, innovations in technology development, availability of new resources, etc.
  • Manage AS' Science Mission (e.g., budget, staffing, strategic directions, funding group)
  • Assist Grants Administration staff in identifying and recruiting appropriate reviewers for funding proposals; partner with Corporate Development and Major Gifts staff members to develop funding opportunities for donors and partners
  • Meet with major donors and key stakeholders to communicate science priorities, develop interest in funding opportunities and share progress of programs in Genomic Discovery portfolio.
  • Partner with Communications team for media interviews, author blogs, and advise on commentary (genomics-related research and development assets)
  • Partner with Advocacy team to advise on policy developments that impact funding for autism research
Requirements: M.D. or Ph.D. in Genetics Molecular Biology or related field (e.g., Integrative Biology, Systems Biology, Computational Biology); and 7 years' experience as a scientific investigator working in an active research institution (academia,government or industry). Must have a track record working on genetics projects focused on understanding human disease, a record of leadership with multidisciplinary research projects, and in building/managing research collaborations. Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications, participation in professional societies and presentation at scientific meetings/conferences; experience working on or leading multi-disciplinary teams, collaborations or partnerships, and research project management. Specialized Skills/Knowledge:
  • Background and familiarity with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ASD research space and familiarity with the current state of genetics research in the autism field is desired, but NOT a requirement
  • Familiarity working with current standards and emerging innovations in the storage and management of large-scale genetic datasets is desired
  • Competency with computational, statistical and informatics approaches used in the analysis of genetic data, with preference for working with large scale genomic (eg: exome, whole genome) sequencing datasets
  • Strategic thinker - strong organizational skills and ability to work with minimal supervision
  • Flexibility to travel nationally and internationally Terms: Autism Speaks offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. Candidate must pass a comprehensive background check: credit, mortgage, civil/criminal, motor vehicle, education/salary verification and drugscreen. EOE Qualified applicants may email cover letter, resume with salary requirements to:careerseast@autismspeaks.org

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