School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.
Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.
Senior Translational Research Data & Bioinformatics Specialist
Be You.
At Duke, we celebrate curiosity, innovation, and the unique expertise each team member brings to advancing human health. As a Senior Translational Research Data & Bioinformatics Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in driving discovery science by connecting clinical research, biospecimen infrastructure, bioinformatics, and data systems that accelerate translational medicine.
You will join a collaborative environment where clinicians, scientists, bioinformaticians, trainees, and research professionals work together to transform complex biological data into meaningful scientific discoveries. Your work will directly support cancer research, translational studies, clinical trials, and grant-funded scientific initiatives that improve outcomes for patients today and in the future.
Whether architecting enterprise-level biobank databases, developing cutting-edge multi-omic analytical pipelines, or leading cross-functional research operations, your expertise will help shape the future of precision medicine at Duke.
Be Bold.
What You'll Do
As a senior technical and scientific contributor, you will provide leadership across translational biospecimen management, database architecture, bioinformatics, analytics, regulatory compliance, and laboratory operations.
Translational Biospecimen Infrastructure & Data Systems Leadership
- Design, build, and maintain enterprise-grade database systems that support longitudinal and protocol-driven translational research programs.
- Develop scalable data management solutions using REDCap, SQL, Python, R, and web-based technologies.
- Architect relational database structures that ensure biospecimen traceability, chain-of-custody accountability, and regulatory compliance throughout the research lifecycle.
- Create automated workflows and data pipelines that improve operational efficiency, harmonize research protocols, and maintain data integrity.
- Develop intuitive dashboards, reporting tools, and self-service research portals that enable investigators, trainees, and collaborators to identify available specimens and associated clinical data.
- Support department-wide and Duke Cancer Institute clinical research initiatives through robust data infrastructure development.
Bioinformatics & Multi-Omic Analytics
- Design and execute advanced bioinformatic workflows for genomic, transcriptomic, single-cell, and other high-dimensional molecular datasets.
- Develop custom analytical pipelines in R and Python that transform complex biological data into actionable scientific insights.
- Perform quality control, statistical modeling, and exploratory analyses for translational research projects.
- Generate publication-quality visualizations, figures, and analytical summaries that support scientific manuscripts, presentations, and grant submissions.
- Apply advanced computational methods to integrate and interpret multi-omic datasets.
- Develop innovative analytical approaches that accelerate discovery and support competitive external funding opportunities.
Research Data Strategy & Scientific Collaboration
- Partner with investigators to develop analytical plans and research strategies for translational studies.
- Collaborate with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, trainees, and research teams to answer complex scientific questions using large-scale clinical and molecular datasets.
- Translate technical findings into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Support development of data-driven research proposals, abstracts, manuscripts, and scientific presentations.
- Contribute to data sharing initiatives and reproducible research practices that increase the impact of scientific discoveries.
Regulatory Compliance & Research Operations
- Ensure adherence to IRB requirements, FDA regulations, NIH data-sharing requirements, and institutional research policies.
- Lead development, implementation, and maintenance of standard operating procedures supporting biospecimen collection, processing, storage, and reporting.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation and data management practices across multiple active research protocols.
- Serve as a key liaison between clinical research operations, laboratory teams, data scientists, and investigators.
- Facilitate seamless integration between clinical trial activities and laboratory-based translational research workflows.
- Promote best practices in data governance, security, quality assurance, and research compliance.
Leadership & Team Development
- Train, mentor, and support research staff, trainees, and laboratory personnel on technical systems, bioinformatic workflows, and data management processes.
- Provide operational leadership across multiple concurrent translational research initiatives.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and scientific excellence.
- Identify emerging technologies and process improvements that enhance research productivity and scientific impact.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in translational research data systems, bioinformatics, and biospecimen operations.
What You'll Bring
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Science, Computer Science, Biomedical Informatics, Molecular Biology, Public Health, or related scientific discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience developing and managing complex research databases and translational research data systems.
- Strong programming experience using R, Python, SQL, and related analytical tools.
- Experience supporting clinical, translational, or biomedical research environments.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and regulatory compliance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a scientific, quantitative, or computational discipline.
- Experience supporting cancer research, translational medicine, precision medicine, or biobank programs.
- Expertise with REDCap administration, API integrations, workflow automation, and database architecture.
- Experience with single-cell sequencing, RNA-seq, TCR sequencing, microbiome analysis, or other next-generation sequencing workflows.
- Knowledge of NIH data management and sharing requirements.
- Experience supporting grant development, manuscript preparation, and scientific publication activities.
Technical Skills
- Programming & Development: R, Python, SQL, HTML, web applications, workflow automation.
- Database Systems: REDCap, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, relational database design, APIs, data integration.
- Bioinformatics: RNA-seq, single-cell analysis, TCR sequencing, differential expression analysis, multi-omic integration.
- Data Visualization: Advanced graphical reporting, dashboards, publication-quality figures.
- Research Compliance: IRB regulations, biospecimen governance, NIH Data Management & Sharing Plans, SOP development.
- Scientific Computing: Statistical modeling, reproducible research practices, high-dimensional data analysis.
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking
- Scientific problem solving
- Technical innovation
- Database architecture
- Bioinformatics expertise
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Regulatory compliance
- Project leadership
- Mentorship and training
- Communication and scientific storytelling
Choose Duke.
At Duke, you'll join one of the nation's leading academic health and research institutions where innovation, collaboration, and discovery drive everything we do.
Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $61,026.00 to USD $98,439.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/ Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions:
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).
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Duke Clinical Research Institute
Aug 07, 2026