Automation Cell Culture Biologist

About the Role

This role supports research at the Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias by characterizing genetic pathways for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) through automated, large-scale cell culture experiments. The position centers on performing iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) culture, differentiation, and phenotyping work on automated liquid handling platforms, and on evaluating how ADRD-associated mutations affect molecular and cellular readouts.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Minimum of two (2) years of related experience
• Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) certification

Preferred Experience

• Hands-on experience with automated liquid handling robotics (Hamilton preferred; TECAN, Beckman, or Agilent also considered)
• Direct experience culturing iPS cells

Skills

• Proficiency with automated liquid handling robots
• Planning and optimizing experiments
• QC testing
• Hands-on experience with cell culture, particularly working with iPS cells
• Hands-on experience operating and programming liquid handling robotics and platforms (Hamilton preferred, TECAN, Beckman, Agilent)
• Knowledge of proper laboratory disposal methods and procedures
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and time management skills
• Programming/coding experience (VENUS, Visual Basic, C++, MATLAB, or Python programming)

Software

• Outlook
• R
• Seurat
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Google Drive

Responsibilities

• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards
• Record research or operational data
• Interpret research or operational data
• Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data
• Operate laboratory equipment to analyze samples
• 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, 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
• 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, and 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, and mammalian samples, including their acquisition, documentation, and storage
• 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

Deliverables

• Clean Equipment — Daily
• Run Validation — Daily
• Inspect Equipment — Weekly
• Meet with lab members to present updates — Bi-Weekly
• 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 — Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to evaluating the stability of differentiated cells across lines and passages to identify cell lines with desirable characteristics for subsequent cell engineering — Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documentation to develop differentiation, microscopy, and automated cell culture protocols — Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documentation resulting from automated cell culture phenotyping of iPSC lines — Ad-Hoc
• 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 — Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to applying published protocols for cell differentiation to iPSC lines, microscopy, and molecular analysis — Ad-Hoc
• 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 — Ad-Hoc

Benefits

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401K match up to 5%
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare (FSA), Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK), Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP), Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Pay

$110,000 - $115,000 USD