Research Assoc III, Stem Cell Lab (IPSC)

BioSpace; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. Frederick National Laboratory seeks a senior scientist to advance iPSC culture, organoid development, and related cell-based assays.

You will lead complex experiments, troubleshoot workflows, and ensure rigorous quality control across projects in collaboration with scientists and investigators. You will develop and optimize protocols, analyze data, and contribute to scientific documentation, SOPs, and training, while maintaining high standards of reproducibility

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or four years of relevant experience; foreign degrees evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible experience.
• Expertise in mammalian cell culture, aseptic technique, and molecular/cellular biology methods.
• Ability to independently plan, troubleshoot, and optimize complex lab experiments.
• Experience developing, optimizing, and validating protocols and assays.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to coordinate multiple activities; basic Office skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and coordinate complex research activities involving iPSC culture, characterization, differentiation, and organoid model development.
• Direct technical components of projects and coordinate experimental activities with scientists and collaborators.
• Develop and implement new iPSC culture, differentiation, organoid, and cell-based assays focusing on reproducibility and scalability.
• Establish standardized workflows and QC criteria for iPSC lines and organoid models; evaluate identity, viability, phenotype, and culture performance.
• Troubleshoot complex experiments, evaluate results, and modify protocols as needed.
• Perform and oversee molecular and cellular characterization using flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, microscopy, qPCR, and protein analysis.
• Communicate data and contribute to reports, plans, presentations, and SOPs; support training of staff and researchers.
• Support operations, evaluate equipment, manage reagents and cell banks, and promote lab best practices.
• Maintain knowledge of stem cell biology, organoid technologies, regenerative medicine, and related areas.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Aseptic technique

Molecular biology

Data analysis

MS Office

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree or 4 years relevant experience

Tools

Flow cytometry

Immunocytochemistry

Microscopy

qPCR

Western blotting

Job description

Job ID: req4676
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.

Program Description

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.

Key Roles/Responsibilities

• 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.

Basic Qualifications

• 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 coordinate multiple experimental activities and priorities.
• Must possess basic Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive hands‑on experience with human iPSC culture, maintenance, cryopreservation, characterization, and directed differentiation.
• Experience with somatic cell reprogramming and establishment and characterization of new human iPSC lines.
• Experience developing and optimizing organoid culture, 3D cell culture, or other advanced human in vitro model systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing, optimizing, validating, and standardizing stem cell differentiation protocols and cell‑based assays.
• Experience establishing and implementing quality control criteria for human pluripotent stem cells and differentiated cell products.
• Experience with molecular and cellular characterization techniques including flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence or high‑content microscopy, qPCR, Western blotting, and related approaches.
• Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of human pluripotent stem cells is desirable.
• Familiarity with developmental biology, regenerative medicine, cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, and/or metabolic regulation of cell fate.
• Experience with metabolic phenotyping approaches, including extracellular flux analysis, mitochondrial functional assays, metabolomics, or related techniques, is desirable.
• Experience contributing to scientific publications, presentations, technical reports, research plans, or proposals.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, training laboratory personnel, and coordinating complex experimental workflows within a multidisciplinary research environment.

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to animals(s) and/or animal material(s).
• This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, color, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here

85,200.00 - 122,087.00 USD

The posted pay range for this job is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include, but are not limited to, responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as internal equity, and alignment with market data. The salary range posted is a full-time equivalent salary and will vary depending on scheduled hours for part time positions