Associate Research Scientist (PREP0003734) Full-time

Associate Research Scientist

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title: Biomedical engineer

The work will entail: We are seeking to hire a biomedical engineer to be stationed at the NIST Gaithersburg Campus located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, close to Washington DC. The person hired for this position will provide technical support for executing cell-based experiments on laboratory automation systems. The person will be familiar with measurement methods for testing and experiment with biological cells. The person will also develop high-quality test methods through design-of-experiment techniques and sources of variability analysis with the use of automated instrumentation.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Perform biological assays (i.e. cell viability, antibody staining, flow cytometry, microscopy, fluorescence, absorbance) in a laboratory.
• Assay plate design for automation systems.
• Assay protocol adaptation to automation system control software (i.e. programming with Hamilton Venus)
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers for design-of-experiment approaches for instrument performance analysis
• Evaluation of replicate performance datasets in collaboration with NIST statisticians
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences and workshops.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in physics, engineering, biomedical engineering, biology or minimum 5-years experience in biotechnology related industry.
• Experience with programming and using automation systems in the laboratory environment
• Demonstrated ability to use advanced instrumentation and associated software for data analysis and system performance analysis.
• Experience with performing common biological assays.
• Demonstrated ability to write technical protocols, present results and generate data for reports.
• Demonstrated ability for critical thinking, innovation and problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and with a multi-disciplinary research team
• Experience using spreadsheets and statistical software packages for data analysis.