Scientist I - Outreach Scientist - Spoctt Program

Scientist I: Outreach Scientist – SPOCTT program

The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.

The mission of the Allen Institute for Brain Science is to accelerate the understanding of how the human brain works in health and disease. Using a big science approach, we generate useful public resources, drive technological and analytical advances, and discover fundamental brain properties through integration of experiments, modeling, and theory.

Single nucleus RNA-seq has revolutionized neuroscience by allowing a high-throughput analysis and classification of cells into cell types based on their molecular profiles, which are highly predictive of specific aspects of cellular function and relation to disease. Working with the NIH BRAIN Initiative Cell Census/Atlas Network (BICCN/BICAN, biccn.org), we continue to generate maps of cell types of the mouse, human, and non-human primate brain and have characterized many of the properties of these cells. Supplementing these maps are standards for cell type classification, organization, and nomenclature, along with web-based tools for sharing these cell type “taxonomies” with the neuroscience community and the general public. The Allen Institute has applied for a grant to fund the Scientific and Public Outreach of Cell Type Taxonomies (SPOCTT) program, which would support outreach and training on these resources if funded. This position would be part of the program team.

This Scientist will focus on outreach and partnerships as part of a two-year grant aimed at making public cell-type taxonomy-related resources more widely accessible to the general and scientific communities through a combination of consolidation, collaboration, training, education, and outreach efforts. They will be the primary point of contact for collaboration with other consortia and scientific users for questions of cell type taxonomy. This Scientist will work collaboratively with other Allen Institute staff members in the Brain Science and Communications teams to build catalogues of resources, documentation, and web content; to address technical aspects of training and outreach; and to gather, analyze, and implement user feedback.

The ideal candidate has a very strong neuroscience background and some science communication and/or education experience, but no existing expertise in the Allen Institute’s specific cell types research program is required. They have an interest in developing expertise in a wide range of technical content through collaboration with scientific partners, as well as science communication techniques for a range of audiences.

The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences, and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.

This position is contingent on the grant being awarded - pending award notification in May 2023; this position is limited to 2 years with the possibility of extension.

Essential Functions

• Contribute to training, education, and outreach efforts targeted to scientific users in collaboration with the Communications team
• Represent the Allen Institute to the scientific community on the topic of brain cell type taxonomies
• Collaborate with other members of Brain Science and BICAN to ensure new cell type analyses conform to standards of open resources upon release
• Collect, analyze, and help implement feedback on outcomes from training, education, and outreach programs and resources
• Act as the primary point of contact for collaboration with other consortia and individual scientific users for topics related to brain cell type taxonomy
• Interface with the web product team to develop and update cell type-associated content from the Allen Institute and other groups on brain-map.org
• Develop and maintain strong familiarity with the scientific background and technical use of open resources from across the Institute related to cell types
• Participate in a highly interactive and multidisciplinary environment

Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education And Experience

• Fluency programming in R and/or Python
• PhD degree in neuroscience, bioinformatics, genetics, data science, or related field

Preferred Education And Experience

• Basic knowledge of website design
• Fluency with GitHub or other version control system
• Formal training in science communication or education
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Experience analyzing high-throughput transcriptomics or epigenetics data
• Strong work ethic, sense of urgency, and self-motivation, including the ability to follow through to complete tasks independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with people at all levels of the organization and from a wide variety of backgrounds
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Strong publication track record
• Experience with cell type classification in brain or any other organ system

Physical Demands

• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment
• Occasional lifting to 30 pounds

Position Type

• This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State
• This position is funded through a grant awarded by the NIH. Position hiring is contingent on funding and is guaranteed only as long as grant funding continues

Travel

• Travel to collaborator institutes up to ~4 times a year
• Travel to conferences up to ~4 times a year

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Please include a cover letter with your application

Additional Comments

• **Please note, that his opportunity does not sponsor work visas**
• **Please note that this opportunity does provide relocation assistance**
• This position is contingent on the grant being awarded pending award notification in May 2023, and is also limited to 2 years with the possibility of extension.

Annualized Salary Range

• $75,003 - $105,004 *
• Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, and level of skills relevant to the role, along with work location, where applicable.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outline in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits .

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.