Laboratory Automation Cell- Assays

The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking qualified persons (U.S. citizens preferred) to contribute to the development of advanced measurement infrastructure for biomanufacturing and the automation of biological assays. These activities underpin distributed manufacturing concepts made possible by the emergence of biofoundry networks and cloud laboratories. The selected candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team developing transferable cell expansion processes and assay performance specifications for automated systems to ensure reliability in next-generation platform manufacturing.

The candidate will contribute to the unique measurement and tooling needs required to facilitate innovation in the U.S. bioeconomy.

• Conduct innovative research in transferable manufacturing systems for living-cell reference materials.
• Translate experimental designs into automated laboratory instrumentation programs.
• Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and interpret results.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the institute.
• Write and publish manuscripts for peer-reviewed and open-science mediums.
• Present findings at national conferences and institutional meetings.

• Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, or a related field.
• Experience working with mammalian cell cultures, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
• Experience writing and executing programs on large laboratory automation systems (e.g., liquid handlers, automated microscopes) for cellular measurements.
• A track record in interdisciplinary research, particularly within automated laboratory frameworks.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to travel occasionally for collaborations.

Proficiency in scientific data analysis and statistics using Excel, Python, R, or MATLAB.

This opportunity is to be a postdoctoral associate researcher in the NIST Biosystems and Biomaterials Division for a term of 1 year, with the potential to renew. Associate researchers are NOT Federal Employees, but they work aside NIST researchers and with NIST’s world-class instrumentation. Relocation expenses will not be provided. U.S. citizens hired into associate positions may have the opportunity to seek longer term Federal Employment.