Automation Cell Culture Biologist

GAP Solutions Inc; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GAP Solutions Inc. seeks an Automated Cell Culture Biologist to support NIH ADRD research at NIA. The role focuses on automating large-scale iPSC culture experiments and exploring genetic pathways for Alzheimer’s disease using human cell models.

Candidate will work with robotic platforms (Hamilton, TECAN) and develop new methods in collaboration with staff. Requirements include a Master’s degree in a related field, 2+ years’ experience, GLP familiarity, and skills in R/Seurat, programming, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years related experience.
• Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) experience.
• Skilled in R and Seurat.
• Experience in programming (VENUS, Visual Basic, C++, MATLAB, or Python).
• Proficiency with automated liquid handling robots.
• Experience planning and optimizing experiments and QC testing.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture, esp. iPS cells.
• Hands-on experience with liquid handling robotics (Hamilton/TECAN/Beckman/Agilent).
• Knowledge of lab disposal methods and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Plan and administer biological research programs.
• Work with staff to perform large-scale iPSC culture on liquid handling platforms.
• Develop and optimize automated cell culture methods for ADRD-related models.
• Characterize genetic pathways for ADRD using human cell-based models.
• Train staff on instrumentation and data collection.
• Record and analyze data; prepare figures for publication.
• Coordinate with team to carry out high-throughput cell culture protocols.

Skills

R

Seurat

Programming

Automated liquid handling robots

iPSC culture

Cell culture

Data analysis

MS Office Suite

Education

Master's degree in cell biology or related discipline

Tools

Hamilton

TECAN

Beckman

Agilent

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Position Objective

This Automated Cell Culture Biologist supports research at the Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) within the National Institutes of Health. This position characterizes genetic pathways for disease by automating large scale cell culture experiments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan and administer biological research programs

• Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function

• Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings

• Work with staff to characterize genetic pathways for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) using human cell-based models.

• Work with staff on performing large-scale iPSC cell culture experiments on liquid handling platforms.

• Program, operate, and implement novel methods on liquid handling platforms (Hamilton, Tecan).

• Work with staff on performing various experiments and procedures related to differentiation and phenotyping of induced pluripotent stem cell lines.

• Evaluate the stability of iPSC and iPSC-derived cells across multiple engineered and non-engineered lines.

• Work with staff to apply published protocols for cell differentiation to IPSC lines, microscopy, and molecular analysis.

• Work independently in designing, developing, and performing new methods

• Work with staff to provide insight into the effects of ADRD-associated mutations on molecular readouts in cell culture.

• Support other research projects.

• Collect, Analyze, interpret, and organize data and present results in team and departmental meetings.

• Keep detailed, organized, and accurate digital and physical experimental records.

• Update and maintain laboratory notebooks and databases.

• Attend meetings and present results and findings for staff discussion.

• Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment

• Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel

• Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings

• Coordinate the work of biological technicians and technologists and other scientists

• Collaborate with other team members to carry out large-scale cell culture protocols using high throughput robotic systems

• Perform standard immunological techniques, including western blotting and immunostaining.

• Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers

• Maintain laboratory equipment

• Operate laboratory equipment to analyze samples 5

• Analyze laboratory findings

• Train staff on the proper usage of laboratory instruments and equipment.

• Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot instruments and equipment in the laboratory.

• Maintain and perform staff training on scientific instrumentation, cell culture microscopies, microanalytical balances, centrifuges, automated platforms.

• Operate, troubleshoot, and train others to use laboratory equipment and software.

• Provide assistance to laboratory staff in designing experiments, using instrumentation, data acquisition and analysis, and preparing figures for publication

• Maintain scientific equipment and resources including reagents, stocks of frozen cells, mammalian samples including acquisition, documentation, and storage

• Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data 4

• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards 1

• Interpret research or operational data 3

• Record research or operational data 2

• Work independently in laboratory assay development

• Develop new automated differentiation protocols for iPSC lines to differentiate into disease-relevant cell types like neurons, astrocytes, and microglia

• Develop image analysis routines to analyze the effects of disease-associated mutations on cellular phenotypes

• Clean Equipment, Run Validation, Inspect Equipment, Meet with lab members to present updates

• Work products and documents related to characterizing genetic pathways for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) using human cell-based models; use IPSC lines to develop the differentiation protocols

• Work products and documents related to evaluating the stability of differentiated cells across clines and passages to identify cell lines with desirable characteristics for subsequent cell engineering

• Work products and documentation to develop differentiation, microscopy, and automated cell culture protocols

• Work products and documentation resulting from automated cell culture phenotyping of iPSC lines.

• Work products and documents related to providing insight into the effects of ADRD-associated mutations on molecular readouts in cell culture; conduct independent research relating to the genetics of ADRD.

• Work products and documents related to applying published protocols for cell differentiation to IPSC lines, microscopy, and molecular analysis

• Work products and documents related to updating and maintaining laboratory notebooks and databases; collect, analyze, and interpret data; prepare summaries and reports based on results and findings; draft and revise manuscripts for publication; attend meetings and present results and findings for staff discussion.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Minimum of 2 years of related experience

• Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)

• Skilled in R and Seurat

• Experience in programming (VENUS, Visual Basic, C++, MATLAB, or Python programming)

• Proficiency with automated liquid handling robots

• Experience planning and optimizing experiments and QC Testing

• Hands-on experience with cell culture in particular working with iPS cells.

• Hands-on experience with operating and programming liquid handling robotics and platforms (Hamilton preferred, TECAN, Beckman, Agilent).

• Knowledge of proper laboratory disposal methods and procedures

• Experience with MS Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with non-technical and technical staff

• Detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by this position.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

GAP Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to apply for a job, email us at [e-mail]. You will need to reference the requisition number of the position in which you are interested. Your message will be routed to the appropriate recruiter who will assist you. Please note, this email address is only to be used for those individuals who need an accommodation to apply for a job. Emails for any other reason or those that do not include a requisition number will not be returned.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

This position is contingent upon contract award.