Multi-Omics Laboratory Lead

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