High-Content/High-Throughput Screening Scientist

Job ID: req2790
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Applied & Development Research Program
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. With more than 2,000 employees, the FNLCR is responsible for pursuing translational and applied biomedical research that is unique from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or other federal contractors. The selected candidate will join the Molecular Pharmacology Branch's (MPB) laboratory program, located at the NCI-Frederick campus, which is composed of five laboratories seeking to deliver new treatments for recalcitrant, rare, and neglected cancers through the discovery of novel targets and the evaluation of investigational therapeutics and new drug combinations using state-of-the-art approaches.

The successful candidate will culture a range of primary and patient-derived cell lines and work within a team to conduct large high-throughput screens with approved and investigational anticancer agents. Additionally, the successful candidate will focus on the design, optimization, implementation and analysis of high-content imaging assays with patient-derived organoids, spheroids and potentially other 3D culture models. This work will complement the ongoing efforts within the MPB and Clinical Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers Group to interrogate the activities of drugs and investigational agents, alone and in combination, that hold promise for future clinical trials. Success in this role will require outstanding technical skills at the bench. This work is in support of the NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD).

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with members of the Target Validation and Screening Laboratory to evaluate the drug sensitivities of spheroids, organoids, and other 3D culture models by high-throughput screening and high-content imaging assays to interrogate the activities of approved drugs and investigational agents, alone and in combinations, that may move into preclinical development and DCTD-sponsored clinical trials
• Lead the development and implementation of high-content imaging assays for interrogating the activity of experimental therapeutics in 3D culture models
• Play a key role in evaluating mechanistic hypotheses for drug and investigational agent responses in the context of targeted clinical trials using cancer cell lines, Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) lines, spheroids, organoids, and other 3D culture models
• Provide imaging and data analysis training and support for members of the Molecular Pharmacology Branch and other DCTD labs
• Prepare, review and publish scientific articles and reviews
• Present data at national and international meetings and conferences
• Maintain a current understanding of technical and scientific advancements in the field and apply this knowledge to advance the MPB/DCTD mission

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of a doctoral degree (e.g., D.V.M., D.Sc., M.D., or Ph.D.) from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Foreign degrees will be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• Experience with culturing spheroids, organoids or other 3D model systems
• Technical experience with high-throughput screening equipment and methods
• M ust have practical laboratory expertise in high-content imaging and confocal image analysis
• Experience and expertise in applying high-resolution imaging and microscopy methodologies to interrogate patient-derived organoids, spheroids, and other 3D culture models
• Experience with data processing and data analysis along with expertise in interrogating, interpreting, and summarizing large volumes of data by appropriate statistical analytical procedures and reporting practices to provide scientific insight
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Excellent team player and forward-thinking with exceptional problem-solving skills
• Highest integrity and standards for research rigor and reproducibility
• Excellent written and verbal communication, troubleshooting, and organizational skills

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to animal(s) and/or animal material(s)
• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

#readytowork