Scientist

Position Overview

 

The Scientist will independently support NEI by advancing research objectives through experimental design and execution. Working with the principal investigator (PI), the Scientist will identify appropriate methods and protocols, develop and optimize experimental procedures, troubleshoot methodological issues, and implement corrective actions as needed. Responsibilities include conducting animal studies (mouse handling, colony maintenance, tissue dissection, and sample collection). The Scientist will also perform immunology and molecular biology assays, including flow cytometry, tissue culture, immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). A Master's degree is required, and Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) certification is listed as a qualification.

 

Certifications & Licenses

• Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)

Field of Study

• Microbiology

Software

• PowerPoint

• NIH POTS

• Outlook

Skills

• Animal handling (mouse)

• Animal behavior

• Tissue dissection

• Genotyping

• Pipetting

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), qPCR, reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and RT-qPCR

• Gel electrophoresis

• Library preparation

• Nucleic acid extraction, DNA purification, RNA purification, and nucleic acid quantification

• Cell culture and primary cell culture

• Data analysis and data presentation

• Standard operating procedure (SOP) writing

• Equipment maintenance

• Inventory management and ordering supplies

Deliverables

• Perform animal experiments, including mouse handling, colony maintenance, tissue dissection, and sample collection — Ad-Hoc

• Depending on the trajectory of the projects, perform immunology and molecular biology laboratory assays, including flow cytometry, tissue culture, IHC, qPCR, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and ChIP-seq — Ad-Hoc

• Update and organize laboratory notebooks, analyze and interpret collected data, attend laboratory meetings, and help maintain lab supplies and cleanliness — Ad-Hoc

• Commit full-time, take job responsibilities seriously and enthusiastically, and work collaboratively with other team members — Ad-Hoc

• Demonstrate critical thinking, attention to detail, and organizational skills, which are strictly required — Ad-Hoc

Statement of Work Details

• Perform the inducible autoimmunity mouse disease model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

• Culture and differentiate primary T cells for adoptive transfer.

• Analyze immune cells using flow cytometry.

• Support the planning and execution of research experiments in the context of the laboratory's overall research program.

• Evaluate new techniques, instruments, and software for potential incorporation into current SOPs.

• Advance the science in the laboratory through new procedures and discoveries.

• Design and conduct experiments and studies requiring broad professional knowledge of scientific theories and principles.

• Support laboratory staff on research projects and techniques, including interpreting experiments performed by research scientists.

• Independently direct and conduct high-priority special research projects, with special emphasis on developing novel research treatments.

• Work with postdoctoral fellows and biological scientists to perform statistical analysis for research projects.

• Work with staff on assay design and method development using an array of experimentation.

• Review scientific data to determine whether a research program can be developed around an idea or data package.

• Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments, equipment, and software, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, microanalytical balances, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, vacuum apparatus, and analytical equipment.

• Train staff on the proper use of laboratory instruments, equipment, and software.

• Provide advice and assistance to users in designing experiments, using instrumentation, acquiring and analyzing data, and preparing figures for publication.

• Assist in maintaining adequate space and facilities for ongoing and projected research studies.

• Submit and gain approval of laboratory animal study protocols.

• Manage scientific equipment and resources (e.g., reagents, stocks of frozen cells, animal samples), including acquisition, documentation, and storage.

• Participate in the laboratory's review of future proposals for resource allocation.

• Provide basic and advanced training in animal care and use procedures to staff.

• Evaluate, analyze, and interpret research data, and communicate results and methods in technical reports, presentations, and manuscripts.

• Conduct bioinformatics and statistical analyses, and prepare data for abstracts and manuscripts.

• Maintain a detailed, up-to-date electronic laboratory notebook documenting all experiments.