Scientific Data Engineer - Image Processing
Seattle, WA

Job Description

Scientific Data Engineer - Image Processing

The goal of the Allen Institute for Cell Science is to understand cell behaviors in their normal, pathological, and regenerative contexts. The Institute, located in a beautiful new facility on South Lake Union in Seattle, Washington, employs a multi-disciplinary team approach to generate novel cellular reagents, models, and databases that are informed by and open to the community. The Institute aims to understand cells, individually and in collectives, as integrated systems, developing a stem cell state space, determining how cells transition from state to state and deciphering the principles of cellular organization. It is doing this using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), genome editing, high replicate live cell microscopy, predictive modeling and theory, and creating a novel multi-scale, dynamic and visual output for both experiments and models.

The goal of the Image-based Assay Development team is to develop scalable, quantitative image-based assays of cell organization, activity, and function and generate initial data and analyses of these assays. This Engineer level position will contribute to developing the computational and image analysis needs of the team. The focus of this position is on image processing, feature extraction, and image analysis activities. S/he will work collaboratively with the Institutes technical and programmatic teams to achieve the Institutes matrixed, programmatic objectives.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Responsibilities

* Assist in developing and implementing robust image processing pipelines, algorithms, feature extraction, and analyses of image-based assays of cell organization, dynamics, states, activities, and functions
* Collaborate with other teams in the institute to scale-up data analysis and image processing protocols into a high throughput microscopy pipeline
* Maintain rigorous quality control standards
* Maintain meticulous records and work closely with other scientists to coordinate complex activities
* Follow the Allen Institute for Cell Sciences software management and deployment standards including source code management, issue tracking, staging and deployment standards, and documentation
* Coordinate with other programs in the Institute to ensure seamless integration and sharing of resources and data

Required Qualifications

* BA/BS in any science, computation, or engineering field or related degree
* Hands on experience in image processing and image analysis
* Basic experience in Python

Preferred Qualifications

* Masters in any science, computation, or engineering field or related degree
* Hands on experience in one or more of the following areas:
* Classic approaches to image processing
* Deep learning approaches to image processing
* Biological or biomedical image processing
* 1+ years hands-on experience in python
* Microscopy image processing
* 3D image processing
* Low signal to noise image processing (including e.g. in astronomy or other non-biological research
* Statistical analyses


* Careful attention to detail
* Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment in academic or industrial settings
* Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment

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.