Director, Molecular Core & Genomics Laboratory

Job Detail

Responsibilities

Establish and grow the NGS Molecular Genomics Laboratory as a leading academic research facility.
Develop and implement the lab’s scientific and operational roadmap.
Foster interdisciplinary collaborations across AKU and with external partners.
Build a business model to achieve financial sustainability within three years of operations.
Lead efforts toward achieving Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification within three years.
In collaboration with Lab Manager, Department of Pathology oversee the day-to-day operations, including inventory management, staffing, equipment management, budgets sequencing workflows, quality assurance, and data analysis.
Lead NGS development and validation to support diverse research needs.
Design and lead independent and collaborative molecular genomics research projects.
Develop and secure competitive grant funding from national and international agencies.
Contribute to graduate-level teaching in genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology.
Oversee development of bioinformatics pipelines for data analysis and interpretation.
Develop and execute a marketing strategy to increase awareness and utilization of the lab’s services among hospitals, oncology networks, academic institutions, and private partners.
Cultivate relationships with clinicians, researchers, donors, and biotech companies to expand the client and collaborator base.
Engage with ministries of health, NGOs, and funders to position the lab as a regional referral and training hub.

Requirements

PhD in Genomics, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Genetics or a related discipline.
At least five (5) years’ postdoctoral experience with demonstrated leadership in NGS-based research.
Minimum 5 years managing a molecular or genomics laboratory.
Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
Successful track record in securing external research funding (e.g., NIH, Wellcome Trust, ERC).
Experience teaching and mentoring at graduate and postgraduate levels.
Proven ability to manage laboratory operations in an academic or research setting.
Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and collaborative research projects.
Expertise in NGS technologies, including library preparation protocols.
Proficiency with Illumina, Thermo Fisher, Oxford Nanopore and other NGS platforms.
Strong bioinformatics expertise in workflow management and data interpretation.