Research Associate II, Tissue/Organoid Engineering

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

The Pre-Clinical Research Associate II position in the MEAD (Major Equipment and Assay Development) Lab within the SOM Center will be responsible for the following:

• Complete complex assignments independently and report to supervisor or scientist.
• Independently evaluating the suitability and quality control of research assays.
• Independently developing new assays or production methods and validating the reliability of the methodology.
• May supervise a staff of technical personnel.
• May initiate a research project by setting up a laboratory.
• Maintaining essential laboratory supplies and equipment.
• Data triage and quality control evaluations.
• Performing other related duties as assigned by a responsible authority.
• Functioning independently in a research laboratory or specialized scientific service, requiring originality and judgement.
• Performing basic subject matter in tissue engineering and/or organoid biology.
• Applying program principles of the specialty area of tissue engineering or biomedical engineering; data reporting techniques, mathematics and statistics.

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 five (5) years of progressively responsible experience.
• Expertise in tissue engineering or biomedical engineering principles.
• Hands-on experience performing basic laboratory techniques germane to tissue engineering or biomedical engineering.
• Experience executing laboratory protocols, collecting and documenting experimental data, and maintaining accurate laboratory records.
• Experience operating standard biomedical laboratory equipment and performing routine quality control procedures.
• Experience analyzing and reporting experimental results.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Developing proficiency in one or more of the following areas: organoid engineering, tissue engineering, biomaterials manufacturing, extracellular matrix processing, bioreactor design and engineering, development of cell-based and/or molecular assays, biomedical optics, bioprinting/biophotonics, and prevascularization approaches.
• Competency in at least one additional area from the list above.
• Developing proficiency or competency in a total of at least three areas from the list above.

Job Hazards

This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.