FWS , Horticulture Undergraduate Research Assistant - Computational Genomics & Bioin

University of Kentucky

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

• Job Title: FWS Spring 2026, Horticulture Undergraduate Research Assistant - Computational Genomics & Bioinformatics (Plant Breeding)
• Requisition Number: DU14373
• Department Name: 1B531:
  
  Federal Work Study
• Work Location: Lexington, KY
• Salary Range: $12.00 - $13.75 / hour
• Type of Position: Student
• Position Time Status: Part-Time
• Required
  
  Education:
  
  Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student in a related field (e.g., Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Biology, Plant & Soil Sciences, Horticulture, Biotechnology).
• Required Related
  
  Experience:
  
  
  • Demonstrated interest in computational work (coursework, projects, or prior experience) and willingness to learn bioinformatics.
  • Comfort working with computers and learning new tools quickly.
• Required License/Registration/Certification: n/a
• Physical Requirements: Minimal physical requirements; ability to work at a computer for extended periods. Occasional in-person meetings and onboarding on campus.
• Shift: Weekdays between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Job Summary:
  • Support computational analysis of genomic and transcriptomic datasets for plant breeding and genetics projects.
  • Run and troubleshoot workflows on UKY HPC resources (LCC/MCC) (job scheduling, file transfers, storage organization, best practices).
  • Develop and maintain reproducible analysis pipelines (e.g., Bash, Python, R, workflow tools; version control with Git).
  • Perform or assist with analyses such as GWAS (e.g., GAPIT or R-based workflows), population structure (PCA), kinship, and visualization, QTL mapping / QTL-seq / QTL-seq-like pipelines (variant filtering, allele frequency analysis, peak detection), RNA‑seq analysis (QC, alignment/quantification, differential expression, summary plots).
  • Help with data QC/organization (metadata, sample sheets), documentation, and creation of “how-to” notes for lab workflows.
  • Communicate progress in weekly check-ins and maintain clear records of commands, parameters, and outputs.
• Skills / Knowledge / Abilities: Strong attention to detail, organized file/data management habits, and ability to document work clearly. Curiosity about genetics/genomics, interest in applying computation to plant science problems, and motivation to build practical skills. Ability to work independently while also communicating clearly in a collaborative research team.
• Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
• Preferred Education/
  
  Experience:
  
  
  • Experience with Linux/command line, basic scripting, or working on a shared computing system.
  • Familiarity with R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization.
  • Familiarity with Git/Git Hub or reproducible research practices.
  • Exposure to any of the following is a plus (not required): GWAS/QTL concepts, RNA‑seq, variant calling, workflow managers (Snakemake/Nextflow), HPC schedulers (e.g., SLURM).
• Final date to receive applications: 05/15/2026
• Our University Community: We value the well‑being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination.
  
  The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre‑employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources.
  
  These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

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Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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