Staff Scientist

The research program of the Wells lab at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is directed toward understanding the phenotypic and genetic architecture of cardiovascular diseases.  Ongoing projects focus on a range of cardiovascular phenotypes including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, obesity and cardiometabolic disease, valvular heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease.  The overarching goal of our lab is to understand how phenotypic and genetic variation in individuals and populations contributes to variable disease susceptibility and therapeutic response, and then translate this knowledge to patient-centered, precision care. We conduct studies across a range of populations using a variety of techniques.  A major interest is leveraging the power of the electronic health record (EHR) for genomic and pharmacogenomics studies. We collaborate extensively with other investigators, including national and international consortia.  Our studies utilize a range of techniques including candidate and genome-wide association, whole exome sequencing, polygenic risk scores, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and proteomics/metabolomics studies. The successful candidate will have opportunity to lead and participate in projects with large-scale consortium datasets, and the EHR-linked Vanderbilt Biobank (BioVU). He/she will work in a team environment. He/she will oversee, supervise, plan, design and implement research projects, including applying existing genetics, statistics and bioinformatics tool and/or develop new methods such as machine learning to analyze data from the research projects. He/she will summarize and present results for written reports and oral presentations and contribute in manuscript and grant writing. He/she will train and advise analytical staff, students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty. He/she will also assist the principal investigator to manage the lab and computing resources.