Research Associate II, Gene Editing

Frederick National Laboratory is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. and addresses urgent and intractable problems in biomedical sciences, including cancer, AIDS, drug development, nanotechnology in medicine, and emerging infectious diseases.

About the Role

The Laboratory & Animal Sciences Program (LASP) provides high-quality animal care and technical support for laboratory and animal research at the National Cancer Institute. LASP delivers husbandry, veterinary, state-of-the-art technology, and pre-clinical scientific services.

Responsibilities

• Design and build reagents for gene editing experiments
• Test gene editing reagents in cultured cells
• Isolate nucleic acids from edited culture cells and perform downstream molecular biology assays (e.g., quantitative PCR)
• Prepare DNA input for high-throughput Illumina sequencing
• Analyze and interpret results from gene editing experiments
• Manage laboratory ordering and inventory

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in a biomedical research-related field or four years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree (foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency)
• Minimum of five years of job-related microbiological and molecular biology experience
• Experience maintaining and manipulating cultured cells using sterile techniques
• Experience designing and performing PCR experiments
• Meticulous note-taking habits for accurate and precise records
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Gene editing experience (Zinc finger nucleases, TALENs, or CRISPR technologies)
• Illumina sequencing, including preparing DNA sequencing libraries
• Plasmid DNA cloning and in vitro transcription of RNA
• Mammalian tissue culture experience
• Basic programming (e.g., running Python code and scripts)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (e.g., primary author publications or oral presentations)
• Strong organizational skills

Job Hazards

This position involves working with or potential exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.

Pay

Competitive compensation with a pay range of $70,500.00 – $100,901.00 USD. The final offer may vary based on responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, internal equity, and market alignment. The posted range reflects full-time equivalent salary and may adjust for part-time positions.

Benefits

Employment benefits include Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave, and Retirement plans. More details are available on the employer’s benefits page.