Staff Scientist

The purpose of this position is to support the research mission of NHLBI’s Hematology Branch. The contractor shall design, conduct, analyze, and communicate original translational hematology research.

• Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology or related discipline

• Minimum 5 to 8 years of experience in scientific research including 3 to 5 years post-doctoral fellow at the NIH

• Biology

• Microsoft Suite

• Excellent analytical, organizational and time-management skills

• Proficiency in coordinating multiple research projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong communications skills, both oral and written.

• Proven track record of conducting state-of-the-art experimental techniques.

• Recognized academic excellence with numerous publications and research awards.

• Demonstrates outstanding scientific judgment, creativity, experimental rigor, troubleshooting ability, organization, and attention to reproducibility.

• Expertise in identifying and overcoming cellular barriers to therapeutic gene delivery.

• Run Validation - Ad-Hoc

• Meet with lab members to present updates - Daily

• Work products and documents related to presenting findings at scientific meetings. - Ad-Hoc

• Well-documented experimental datasets; validated methods, protocols, and standard operating procedures; analyses and publication-quality figures - Bi-Weekly

• Analyze laboratory findings- Independently design and execute the scientific research projects and studies. - 1
• Generate reproducible experimental data, validated methods, scientific analyses, protocols, and written products aligned with NHLBI research priorities. - 2
• Perform confirmatory and mechanistic studies as needed, resolve technical limitations, integrate findings across experiments, and prepare the resulting work for peer-reviewed publication. - 3
• Studies may use established cell models, primary human HSPCs, and approved in vivo models, as scientifically appropriate - 4

• Provides technical experience needed to assist in studying the basic principles of plant and animal life

• Plan and administer biological research programs

• Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species

• Comply with all applicable NIH and NHLBI requirements for laboratory safety, biosafety, research integrity, information security, animal research, and research involving human specimens.

• Assists with performing basic laboratory experiments and procedures

• 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

• Complete and extend studies evaluating baculovirus as a delivery platform for large DNA donor templates used in CRISPR-based targeted gene integration

• Provide hands-on scientific instruction and mentorship to students, postbaccalaureate trainees, fellows, and other laboratory personnel

• Lead laboratory research supporting the development of LNP-mediated in vivo genome editing of HSPCs.

• Develop, qualify, and apply reproducible assays to evaluate mRNA integrity and translation, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) impurities and related quality attributes, and cellular innate immune responses.

• Prepares, organizes and maintains various lab samples, supplies, and equipment

• Maintain laboratory equipment

• Improving expression of functional editing proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA) cargo and on defining and mitigating innate immune responses that limit delivery, cell fitness, or editing activity.

• Learns new laboratory techniques and procedures

• Interpret research or operational data

• Record research or operational data

• Prepare and revise protocols, technical summaries, figures, manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and scientific sections of grant or other research applications under government direction.

• Maintain complete, contemporaneous laboratory records, including electronic notebooks, source data, analysis files, code or calculation records where applicable, sample and reagent identifiers, and version-controlled protocols.

• Develop and refine experimental protocols and standard operating procedures; troubleshoot complex methods; establish assay controls and acceptance criteria; introduce new technologies when justified