Job Purpose:
MBZUAI is establishing a state-of-the-art Multi-Omics laboratory
that will support its partnership in the Global Human Phenotype
Project (HPP). The Multi-Omics Laboratory Lead will be responsible
for leading the planning, establishment, and long-term operation of
this strategic facility.
The Lab Lead will work closely with the Global HPP team, university
leadership, architects, engineers, procurement teams and IT
specialists to design and implement a multi-omics lab. This is a
hands-on leadership position Alongside strategic and managerial
responsibilities, the Lab Lead will be directly involved in
laboratory work, including performing and troubleshooting assays,
leading tech transfer and method validation, and training
laboratory staff on new platforms and protocols.
Following establishment of the laboratory, the Lab Lead will
oversee scientific operations, technology development, quality
management, personnel, and strategic growth, while remaining
actively engaged in day-to-day bench work.
Within the first 2–3 years, the Lab lead would be expected to:
successfully establish the laboratory infrastructure, install and
validate core technology platforms, recruit and develop a
high-performing team, launch multi-omics services for the HPP
study, implement robust quality systems.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning & Leadership
- Participate in the scientific vision for the multi-omics
laboratory.
- Develop a phased roadmap for laboratory implementation.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption
strategies.
- Develop operating models supporting both research and clinical
applications.
- Build a high-performance scientific culture.
- Establish governance for technology evaluation.
- Drive innovation.
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Ensure operational excellence.
- Report regularly to university leadership and HPP Global
team.
Laboratory Design and Build-Out
- Serve as scientific lead for laboratory establishment.
- Localize laboratory workflows.
- Specify instrumentation.
- Design laboratory layout with architects and engineers.
- Define utility requirements.
- Plan sample accessioning and storage.
- Ensure biosafety and regulatory compliance.
- Develop laboratory operational plans.
Technology Platform Development
- Lead implementation of multiple omics technologies including
Genomics, Transcriptomics, Microbiome Metagenomics &
Proteomics.
Own the technology transfer processes
Perform platform evaluation
Assess vendor partnerships and selection
Validate technology decision making.
Optimize workflow processes and implement chose
methodology
Laboratory Operations
- Establish/localize and oversee: SOPs, sample tracking,
Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), equipment
maintenance, budget management, Inventory management (Consumables),
service contracts, quality assurance & operational KPIs.
- Performing and troubleshooting assays and core laboratory
workflows
- Operate key instrumentation
- Training laboratory staff on new platforms and protocols
Quality Management
- Develop quality systems suitable for, high-quality research,
future clinical accreditation including QA/QC procedures, method
validation, performance monitoring, internal audits documentation,
& continuous improvement
Team Building
- Recruit and lead: Laboratory Managers, Bioinformaticians,
Research Associates, Laboratory Technicians& Quality
Personnel
- Leadership responsibilities will include hiring, mentoring,
performance management, professional development and building a
collaborative culture.
Bioinformatics Integration
- Work closely with the Global HPP computational teams to
establish: Data processing pipelines, quality control workflows,
secure data management, data integration, reporting & Cloud/HPC
infrastructure.
Financial Management
- Managing and owning a budget which will include capital
equipment planning, operational budgets, endorse negotiations &
resource allocation
Other Duties:
Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager
that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Qualifications and Criteria:
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Genomics, Genetics, Biomedical
Sciences, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, or a closely related
discipline.
- Postdoctoral training at a leading international research
institution, and additional leadership or management training will
be preferred.
Essential :
- Proven record of leadership experience, developing and growing
a lab/facility of multi-omics platform
- Deep expertise in multi-omics technologies including at least
one of the following: precision medicine, clinical genomics,
translational medicine, population genomics, AI-driven biology,
single-cell technologies, spatial biology, clinical laboratory
accreditation, automation and robotics or high-throughput
laboratory workflows
- Recent hands-on bench experience with omics technologies and
workflows.
- Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams
and complex laboratory operations.
- Experience with large capital equipment procurement.
- Experience working with architects and laboratory
planners.
- Experience implementing LIMS and laboratory informatics.
- Budget management experience of $3m+
- Experience with standards such as ISO 15189, CAP, CLIA, or ISO
17025 would be advantageous, depending on the intended scope.
- Strong technical knowledge of several of the following:
Next-generation sequencing, long-read sequencing, single-cell
sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, mass spectrometry-based
proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, automation, sample storage,
laboratory informatics or Cloud/HPC-enabled data analysis
