Laboratory Automation for Cell-Based Assays

National Institute of Standards and Technology; Gaithersburg, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD seeks a postdoctoral associate to contribute to automated cell-based assay development within the Biosystems and Biomaterials Division. The role involves transferring experimental designs into automation programs for high-throughput cellular measurements.

The successful candidate will perform experiments, analyze data, publish manuscripts, and collaborate across disciplines while traveling for collaborations as needed.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field as listed.
• Experience with mammalian cell cultures, especially iPSCs.
• Experience writing and executing programs for automated lab systems.
• Interdisciplinary research in automated laboratory frameworks.
• Strong communication skills and ability to travel occasionally.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Mammalian cell culture (iPSCs)

Automated lab programming

Interdisciplinary research

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, or related field

Tools

Liquid handlers

Automated microscopes

Python

MATLAB

R

Excel

Job description

Laboratory Automation for Cell-Based 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.

Duties

• 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.

Required Skills, Expertise, and Qualifications

• 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.

Other Desirable Qualifications

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

Employment Terms

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.