A263001
Mentor: Dr. Chen-Han Wilfred Wu
The Department of Urology is seeking a highly motivated and talented postdoctoral scholar to join the urogenetics research group led by Dr. Chen-Han Wilfred Wu. The Wu Lab operates at the forefront of Precision Surgery, Genetics, and Big Data Analysis. This position is ideal for a Computational Scientist, Bioinformatician, Genetic Epidemiologist, or Statistician eager to leverage large-scale genomic and clinical datasets. The successful candidate will investigate the genetics and phenotypics basis of urological conditions, including kidney stone disease, male infertility, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), and genitourinary cancers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Data Analysis: Perform advanced genomic and phenotypic analyses, including the processing of big data, such as high-throughput sequencing data (e.g., WES, WGS, RNA-seq), electronic medical records, and large-scale biobank data (e.g., UK Biobank, All of Us).
- Algorithm Development: Develop and implement robust computational pipelines to integrate multi-omic data with clinical phenotypic information from EMR.
- Research Integration: Collaborate with wet-lab investigators to provide computational insights and cross-validate findings derived from dry-lab analyses.
- Publication & Presentation: Lead the preparation of high-quality manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and present findings at major national and international conferences (e.g., AUA, ASHG, ACMG).
- Grant Support: Assist in drafting research proposals and generating preliminary data for NIH and other federal funding applications.
- Mentoring: Supervise and mentor junior trainees, including medical, graduate, and undergraduate students as appropriate.
Required Qualifications:
- Education: Ph.D. in Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field. An MD/DO with a strong computational research background will also be considered.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in programming languages, such as R or Python.
- Extensive experience with Linux/Unix environments and High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters.
- Experience in Biobank-scale research (e.g., UK Biobank, All of Us).
- Familiarity with standard genomic tools (e.g., GATK, bcftools, samtools, PLINK, VEP, ANNOVAR).
- Expertise in monogenic disease analysis or statistical genetics (e.g., GWAS, PheWAS, Polygenic Risk Scores).
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in clinical informatics and Electronic Health Record (EHR) data mining.
- Foundational knowledge of urology, reproductive health, or urological oncology.
- A strong track record of first-author publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
To apply:
Submit the following to Dr. Chen-Han Wilfred Wu at
- CV
- Contact information of three references
About our Postdoc Office
UAB is committed to the development and success of outstanding postdoctoral scientists. Here at UAB, nearly 300 postdoctoral fellows are training currently in a variety of disciplines. Competitive postdoc awards are available including internships, grant incentives, funds to enhance education and collaboration outside UAB, and teaching opportunities at local universities. There is also a Postdoc Research Day with monetary awards. The Office of Postdoctoral Education strongly encourages UAB research mentors to follow the National Research Service Award stipend level guidelines, and postdoctoral scholars qualify for health, life, and other insurances. They also have the right to participate in the university’s 403(b) program and enjoy vacation, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, and other benefits.
About the University
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service. UAB was ranked #1 in the United States, and in the top 10 worldwide, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2018 Young University Rankings.
Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with nearly 28,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 16 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and eight UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, totaling $715 million in FY22 — a 50% increase over the past five years. UAB ranks 33rd among all universities in federal research funding and 17th among public universities. UAB's NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 25th among all universities in NIH funding and 11th among public universities.
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