Lead Laboratory High-Throughput Screening Research Scientist I - Chemical Insight Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for Lead Laboratory High-Throughput Screening Research Scientist I ​ at UL Research Institutes Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI), based in our Morrisville, NC (RTP area) facilities.

While this position is currently posted at the Lead level, we welcome applications from exceptional talent whose experience, research focus and accomplishments may align with a different level within our organization. As part of the evaluation process, candidates may be considered for appointment at a higher or lower level, as appropriate. Any level determination will be based on demonstrated qualifications, expertise, leadership impact, and alignment with the scope and responsibilities of the role.

The Lead Laboratory High-throughput Screening Research Scientist I leads the development and application of high-throughput in vitro assays to screen hundreds to thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals for targeted in vitro activity, including possible targets relevant to endocrine bioactivity and metabolism. This role leads the development of requisite laboratory workflows, executing these workflows, and developing high-quality datasets to provide information about data-poor chemicals for further analysis with a team of scientists. The Lead Laboratory High-throughput Screening Research Scientist I collaborates with Chemical Insights’ scientists and external collaborators to deliver high-quality scientific outputs that inform chemical safety and green chemistry initiatives to support our mission to provide unbiased research on chemicals and their risks to people’s health.

This is a 4-year term position eligible for renewal based on performance and/or funding.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Chemical Insight team who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI):

The Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) contributes to the protection of public health and well-being by conducting scientific research. Our research and initiatives let people around the world know what chemicals are in the air we breathe and how they affect human health and the planet. We share our research and knowledge through information and application tools with leaders in the scientific, business, and policy communities to raise awareness of human health risks stemming from emerging technologies. To learn more, visit: chemicalinsights.org/

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Lead Laboratory High-Throughput Screening Research Scientist I, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Lead the development of high-throughput in vitro assays that are designed to measure targeted biological processes and endpoints relevant to chemical toxicity.
• Lead the application of laboratory automation and information management systems to execute the high-throughput in vitro toxicology screening studies and capture the primary data and associated metadata.
• Work closely with internal and external collaborators analyze high-throughput screening results, characterize the performance and quality of these results, and make them publicly available in databases and software tools.·
• Communicate the results to internal and external stakeholders, including scientists, health professionals, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions.
• Mentor and help team members with related projects and proactively reach out to support related work in the laboratory.
• Stay current with emerging trends and scientific literature in assay technologies, applications, and workflows.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences, stakeholder meetings, and technical forums.
• Serve as author on technical reports and peer-reviewed publications.
• Assist in writing research proposals and securing funding from internal and external sources.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for over 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People : Our people make us special. You’ll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today’s global challenges require.
• Interesting work : Every day is different for us here. We see what’s on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.
• Grow and achieve : We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.
• Values . Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.
• Total Rewards : All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Advanced technical knowledge in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and related scientific disciplines.
• Expert level proficiency in in vitro assay development, high-throughput screening, cell culture, and laboratory automation.
• Working knowledge of chemistry, compound management, and high-content imaging.
• Demonstrated experience applying and troubleshooting automated liquid-handling, high-content imaging, and high-throughput screening platforms in support of laboratory research.
• Strong problem solving and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute laboratory workflows and evaluate the quality of research datasets from new assays.
• Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific meetings.
• Demonstrated excellence in technical communication across written, verbal, and visual formats.
• Clearly communicate complex chemical biology concepts to diverse technical and non-technical audiences and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams of scientists and technical experts in bioinformatics, data science, cheminformatics, toxicology, and computational modeling.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Ph.D. in a related scientific discipline plus 6 or more years post-degree of directly related research experience in assay development and high-throughput in vitro screening; or
• Master’s degree in a related scientific discipline plus 8 or more years post-degree of directly related research experience in assay development and high-throughput in vitro screening; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific discipline plus 12 or more years post-degree of directly related research experience in assay development and high-throughput in vitro screening.
• Proven experience leading laboratory-based scientific research, with expertise in the development, optimization, and performance characterization of in vitro assays using molecular, biochemical, immortalized cell line, and primary cell-based systems.
• Experience operating automated liquid-handling, high-content imaging, and high-throughput screening platforms.

While this position is posted at the Lead level, exceptional candidates may be considered for a different level based on their experience, expertise, and demonstrated impact.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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