Scientist, Computational Biology (Perturb-seq or Microglia Track) at Arc Institute
Job Description
Arc Institute’s Computational Technology Center is hiring two Scientists in computational biology to turn large perturbation and single-cell datasets into mechanistic insight, working at the interface of functional genomics, computational biology and machine learning.
At a glance
- Role: Scientist, Computational Biology (2 positions)
- Where: Palo Alto, California, USA
- Pay: US$135,000–186,500 base
- Tracks: Perturb-seq/functional genomics (Virtual Cell Initiative) or neurobiology/microglia (Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative)
- Apply: open until filled (re-checked 12 October 2026)
About the computational biology scientist role
- Analyse large Perturb-seq, single-cell, multi-omic and functional genomics datasets to find functional links between genes, regulatory programmes and cell phenotypes
- Depending on the track: guide assignment, perturbation-effect estimation and interaction modelling for pooled CRISPR screens, or trajectory and cell-state analysis of microglia in neurodegeneration
- Partner with experimental teams on study design, interpretation and validation
- Define clean handoffs with bioinformatics and data infrastructure teams, and contribute to Arc’s Virtual Cell and Alzheimer’s Disease Initiatives
Arc is hiring two scientists: one on a Perturb-seq and functional genomics track contributing to the Virtual Cell Initiative, and one on a neurobiology and microglia track contributing to the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative. Applicants should say which track they are applying for.
What Arc Institute is looking for
- Deep hands-on experience with single-cell, perturbational or multi-omic data, and comfort with large, messy datasets
- A drive to understand mechanisms, not just lists of differentially expressed genes
- Careful thinking about experimental design and the ability to talk biology with experimentalists and models with computational colleagues
- A solid understanding of existing computational methods and their limits, and the ability to extend them
Pay and location
Arc lists a base salary range of US$135,000–186,500 for this role in Palo Alto.
How to apply
Apply through the official Arc Institute job posting. Arc Institute’s posting does not give a closing date, so the role is open until filled; ResearchJobs.in will re-check this listing on 12 October 2026. Check the posting for location and work-authorisation details before you apply.
See all our scientist jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Arc Institute
Official advertisement: job-boards.greenhouse.io
How to prepare for this application
- Perturb-seq analysis: revise guide assignment, effect estimation and how to handle low-coverage cells.
- Microglia: for that track, read about disease-associated microglia states in Alzheimer's.
- Mechanism over lists: prepare an example where you went from a gene list to a testable mechanism.
- Collaboration: show how your analysis changed an experiment's design.
- Choose your track: state it clearly in your application, as Arc asks.
About Arc Institute
Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organisation at the interface of AI and biology, founded in 2021 in Palo Alto and partnered with Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco. Its scientists have long-term philanthropic funding and industry-like resources, and more than 300 people work there on programmes including a Virtual Cell Initiative and an Alzheimer's Disease Initiative.
