Staff Scientist

About the Role

Axle is seeking a Staff Scientist to support the research mission of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Hematology Branch in Bethesda, MD. The contractor shall design, conduct, analyze, and communicate original translational hematology research.

Qualifications

• 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
• Field of Study: Biology
• Software: 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

Responsibilities

• Independently design and execute scientific research projects and studies
• Generate reproducible experimental data, validated methods, scientific analyses, protocols, and written products aligned with NHLBI research priorities
• Perform confirmatory and mechanistic studies as needed, resolve technical limitations, integrate findings across experiments, and prepare the resulting work for peer-reviewed publication
• Studies may use established cell models, primary human HSPCs, and approved in vivo models, as scientifically appropriate
• Provide 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
• Assist 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
• Prepare, organize and maintain various lab samples, supplies, and equipment
• Maintain laboratory equipment
• Improve expression of functional editing proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA) cargo and define and mitigate innate immune responses that limit delivery, cell fitness, or editing activity
• Learn 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

Deliverables

• 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

Pay

$100,000 USD - $115,000 USD