Scientist II-In Vitro Screening and Pharmacology (REQ1185)

Company: Frederick National Laboratory
Location: Frederick
Posted on: November 13, 2020

Job Description:

Scientist II-In Vitro Screening and Pharmacology

Job ID: req1185

Employee Type: exempt full-time

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.

Our core values of accountability, compassion, collaboration, dedication, integrity, and versatility serve as a guidepost for how we do our work every day in serving the public's interest.

Position Overview:

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 four 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.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will focus on the design, optimization, and implementation of high content imaging assays for screening and mechanism of action studies 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. Work is in support of the NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD). Duties include:

Work with members of the Target Validation and Screening Laboratory, Organoid Models Laboratory, Translational Support Laboratory, and Clinical Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers Group to evaluate the drug sensitivities of spheroids, organoids, and other 3D culture models by high content imaging and other assays to interrogate the activities of 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 screening new potential therapeutic combinations and initiating new scientific projects

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, by combining high content imaging and molecular biology techniques to achieve gene modulation and interrogate pathways of interest

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

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

In addition to education requirements, a minimum of two (2) years of independent and innovative research in the field of cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, enzymology, pharmacology, drug discovery or a similar discipline

Must have practical laboratory experience with patient derived organoids and other 3D culture model systems

Expertise in high content imaging; preferably 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

Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

An individual at this level normally has made contributions by independently producing research work, authoring and/or co-authoring publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and by presenting papers before professional societies

Must be an 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

Keywords: Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick , Scientist II-In Vitro Screening and Pharmacology (REQ1185), Other , Frederick, Maryland