Biologist II

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start‑up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

As a Biologist II, you will join a multidisciplinary team advancing biological and computational research in support of national security, environmental, and health‑related missions. You will apply strong AI/ML and computational biology skills to develop and adapt machine learning models, enhance biological data interpretation, support risk and threat assessments, and contribute to digital twin and virtual testbed efforts. You will also perform wet lab experiments in microbiology and molecular biology, analyze results, prepare technical documentation, and collaborate with scientists across disciplines.

Additionally, you will actively identify and capitalize on opportunities to lead projects that enhance capabilities and foster the development of novel technical approaches.

This is a hybrid role with both computational and experimental responsibilities, and candidates should be motivated to contribute in either mode based on program needs. This position offers an exhilarating opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic, multidisciplinary team committed to advancing scientific knowledge and solving our customer’s toughest challenges.

This full‑time position will be located in Columbus, Ohio.

AI/ML & Computational Biology

• Implement and adapt machine learning workflows for classification, prediction, information extraction, and sequence/text analysis.
• Fine‑tune and evaluate transformer/LLM models and integrate them into analysis pipelines and tools.
• Build and maintain data processing and model evaluation workflows, contributing to validation, benchmarking, and documentation.
• Support digital twin and virtual testbed efforts by preparing datasets and interpreting model outputs.

Experimental Biology (Wet Lab)

• Design and execute experiments in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and/or microbiology following SOPs and best practices.
• Troubleshoot experimental protocols; maintain instruments; ensure data integrity and traceability.
• Follow established safety guidelines to safely work with hazardous/infectious (RG2) materials.

Collaboration, Communication, & Reporting

• Analyze and interpret results; prepare technical reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
• Mentor and cross‑train junior staff in lab and computational techniques.
• Work independently to meet milestones with guidance from senior scientists and project managers.

Some domestic travel is possible but not anticipated.

• PhD, or MS and >2 years, or BS and >5 years in a relevant biological discipline (e.g., molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, bioinformatics, computational biology).
• Strong applied AI/ML capability, including demonstrated experience implementing end‑to‑end ML workflows and fine‑tuning transformer/LLM models for biological or biomedical problems.
• Proficiency in Python (preferred) and/or R, including common scientific/ML libraries (e.g., pandas, scikit‑learn, PyTorch/Tensor Flow).
• Proficiency in Bash and Linux systems (e.g., Ubuntu, WSL).
• Expertise designing and executing experiments rooted in a biological discipline.
• Familiarity with biology‑focused LLMs or models (e.g., BioGPT and BioMedLM) or evidence of quickly adapting general LLMs to biological use cases.
• Open‑source tooling proficiency (e.g., Git/Git Hub, Jupyter notebooks, reproducible environments).
• Clear, concise communication (written and oral) and effectiveness in cross‑functional teams.
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
• Medically fit to work in the laboratory to perform assigned duties including the ability to wear personal protection equipment (PPE), lift up to 50 pounds, and work around hazardous/infectious materials.