Research Assoc III, Stem Cell Lab; IPSC)

Job
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division:
Laboratory Animal Science Program
Facility:
Frederick:
Ft Detrick

Location:

PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
The Frederick National Laboratory is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.
Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

The Laboratory & Animal Sciences Program (LASP) provides exceptional quality animal care and technical support services for laboratory and animal research performed at the National Cancer Institute at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. LASP executes this mission by providing a broad spectrum of husbandry, veterinary, state-of-the-art technology, and pre-clinical scientific services. LASP also provides primary support to the NIH Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) Initiative to address the need for validated, scalable, and reproducible organoid-based Novel Alternative Methods (NAMs) in biomedical research.

Our team provides technical infrastructure, operational integration, and specialized expertise to drive the development and optimization of organoid models of normal (non-cancerous) human tissues derived from a wide range of tissue types and donor sources.

• Independently plan, execute, and coordinate complex research activities involving human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) culture, characterization, differentiation, and organoid model development in support of the SOM Initiative.
• Direct one or more technical components of larger research projects, coordinating experimental activities and working closely with scientists and collaborating investigators to achieve project objectives.
• Develop, optimize, validate, and implement new iPSC culture, differentiation, organoid, and cell-based assay methodologies with an emphasis on reproducibility, scalability, and rigorous quality control.
• Establish and maintain standardized workflows and quality control criteria for iPSC lines, differentiated cell populations, and organoid models, including evaluation of cell identity, viability, phenotype, differentiation efficiency, and culture performance.
• Independently troubleshoot complex experimental and technical problems, evaluate experimental outcomes, and recommend modifications to protocols and workflows.
• Perform and oversee molecular and cellular characterization using techniques such as flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, microscopy, qPCR, protein analysis, and other advanced cell-based assays.
• Compile, analyze, interpret, and communicate experimental data and contribute to technical reports, research plans, presentations, manuscripts, SOPs, and other scientific documentation.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to research associates and other laboratory personnel and support training in specialized stem cell culture, assay, and quality control procedures.
• Support laboratory operations, including implementation of new technologies, evaluation and maintenance of specialized equipment, management of critical reagents and cell banks, and establishment of laboratory best practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of advances in stem cell biology, developmental biology, regenerative medicine, organoid technologies, and related areas through review of the scientific literature and participation in scientific presentations.

• Possession of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or four (4) years relevant experience in lieu of degree. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
• In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in mammalian cell culture, aseptic technique, and molecular and cellular biology methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize complex laboratory experiments.
• Experience developing, optimizing, and validating experimental protocols and assays.
• Experience with experimental data analysis, interpretation, quality control, and scientific documentation.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to…