Biologist (52809)

Position Objective: The Biologist will provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the National Institute on Aging within the National Institutes of Health. The Computational Genomics Unit at NIA is interested in the mechanistic basis for RNA regulation and decay in aging.

Particularly the crosstalk between RNA regulatory processes i.e. miRNAs, RNA binding processes and decay. The position involves leading, developing and applying protocols to study gene expression, translation and decay using new technologies such as nanopore sequencing (dRNA-Seq), ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) and crosslinking, immunoprecipitation and sequencing of RNA binding proteins (CLIP-Seq).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan and administer biological research programs
• Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings
• Assists with performing basic laboratory experiments and procedures
• Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment
• Coordinate the work of biological technicians and technologists and other scientists
• 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
• Prepares, organizes and maintains various lab samples, supplies, and equipment
• Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.
• Maintain laboratory equipment
• Operate laboratory equipment to analyze samples 5
• Analyze laboratory findings 4
• Place orders for laboratory supplies and equipment and monitor deliveries
• Learns new laboratory techniques and procedures
• Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data 3
• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards
• Interpret research or operational data 2
• Record research or operational data
• Develop new experimental protocols and procedures 1
• Identify self as contractor at meetings; conferences; e-mail and other written forms of correspondence and/or documents; telephone calls/voicemail; seminars; and training courses.
• Conduct independent research projects to purify and analyze ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes pertaining to mRNA decay, RNA stability, and gene regulation.
• Analyze the function of RNA dynamics in aging-associated diseases and across cells and tissues.
• Design novel protocols for RNA purification, isolation, and high-throughput sequencing such as long-read sequencing, Ribo-Seq, CLIP-Seq.
• Prepare, organize, order and maintain laboratory biological samples, supplies and equipment.
• Apply biochemical, genetic, and cell biology techniques to troubleshoot and solve problems that occur during experiments.
• Participate in group and lab meetings and present findings.
• Prepare reports for publications and presentations for outside meetings.
• Organize assigned team projects, and train junior scientists and technicians.
• Work products and documents related to independent research projects including purification and analysis of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes pertaining to RNA decay and stability and gene regulation; RNA dynamics in aging physiology and diseases; novel protocols for RNA purification, isolation and high-throughput sequencing.
• Work products and documents related to presenting findings in group and lab meetings.
• Work products and documents related to computer generated work including preparing reports for publications and presentations.
• Clean Equipment, Run Validation, and Inspect Equipment
• Meet with lab members to present updates
• Write software in python or R using reproducible workflows (such as snakemake) for the interpretation of biological data

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology or related field
• Skilled in MS Office Suite
• Experienced with the following: ITAS, POTS, GeneTools, Image Lab Software, 2100 Bioanalyzer Expert Software, QuantStudio 3, MinKnow, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, and Graph Prism

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with non-technical and technical staff
• Detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects

*This is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by this position.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

GAP Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to apply for a job, email us at [click to reveal email address] View email address on us.fitly.work . You will need to reference the requisition number of the position in which you are interested. Your message will be routed to the appropriate recruiter who will assist you. Please note, this email address is only to be used for those individuals who need an accommodation to apply for a job. Emails for any other reason or those that do not include a requisition number will not be returned.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

This position is contingent upon contract award.