Google's Calico begins search for a head of bioinformatics

Calico CEO Art Levinson

A choice bioinformatics position just opened up at Calico. The secretive, Google ($GOOG)-backed anti-aging biotech is recruiting a head of bioinformatics to lead the creation of infrastructure and tools for acquiring and processing sequence data.

The job posting provides a rare outline of how Calico plans to leverage IT to advance its ambitious goals. Calico will task its bioinformatics chief with creating the means to gather and analyze data generated through genome sequencing, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, mass spec proteomics, flow cytometry and metabolomics. The development of infrastructure to quickly process and integrate genome-scale data and tools to help bench scientists probe information are also headline priorities for the new hire.

Calico has predictably lofty expectations of applicants. The job advert lists "a world-class publication record" alongside a Ph.D. in bioinformatics or statistics and an interest in data science and genomics as "must haves" for the role. Experience developing small molecules or biologics is also desirable. Calico is particularly interested in applicants whose drug development know-how includes expertise in early phase nonclinical study design.

The recruitment of a head of bioinformatics is set to be the first of several hires of computational biologists by Calico. Whomever takes on the bioinformatics role will be tasked with building and leading a small team of computational biologists. At this stage it is unclear how Calico is defining "small," but earlier reports suggested it could hire up to 150 people across the whole business.

- read San Francisco Business Times' take
- here's the bioinformatics job advert

Special Report: 2014 Fierce 15 - Calico