In vitro Assay Development Postdoctoral Fellow - Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Do you marvel at the complexity of biology and seek to develop new diagnostic applications to assess human health?

Do you love performing laboratory experiments in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology with an interdisciplinary team of scientists focused on application development in the national health and defense mission areas?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team, in the Biological Sciences Group, here at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

We are seeking an In vitro Assay Development Postdoctoral fellow to develop and execute strategies for analytical biomarker assay development in non-invasively collected samples to support existing work.  You should have some combination of skills in biomarker detection, focusing on miRNAs and nucleic acid detection. As part of the Biological Sciences Group in the Research Exploratory Development Department, this position is at the forefront of APL 's mission to provide critical contributions to critical challenges. A highly motivated and dedicated Molecular Biologist will be able to contribute to building extraordinary expertise in pursuit of challenges in areas of defense and national health.

As a In vitro Assay Development Postdoc you will...

• Conduct basic and applied research and development to better understand human health and resilience.
• Develop bioanalytical assay approaches for biomarker detection assays.
• Explore “out-of-the-box” ideas to combine multi-omics sequencing technologies with rapid diagnostic tests, lateral flow assays, etc.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists and computational biologists to understand biomarker trends, biological relevance and determine optimal biomarker panels.
• Interpret data, maintain accurate and comprehensive records, and be able to succinctly communicate key findings to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Articulate a vision for new application spaces for analytical biomarker detection within the realm of human health and resilience, driving technical innovation and growth in areas relevant to APL sponsors.
• Have demonstrated quantitative and scientific thinking as evidenced by a strong publication record.
• Support study design, execution, and data analysis as a technical leader.
• Mentor associate staff for their growth and to achieve results as a technical leader.
• Possess the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, diverse, interdisciplinary and highly collaborative research team to achieve the success of APL’s mission.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have...

• A Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or related field with 1+ years of experience.
• Familiarity with histone and DNA modifications and assays related to their quantification (e.g. ChIP-SEQ, bisulfite sequencing).
• Knowledge and understanding of nucleic acid sequencing technologies.
• A strong background in molecular biology or biochemistry techniques, including design and execution of qPCR experiments, plasmid cloning techniques, analysis of gene expression data and transcriptomics to identify sequence variants, biomolecule extraction from human specimen samples, Western blots, etc.
• Experience in design and execution of hands-on analyses of human biological samples on multiple molecular and immunoassay platforms.
• Experience in microfluidics and field-deployment.
• Are adaptable and enthusiastic about new challenges, have an innate curiosity, and a passion for learning along with a collaborative mindset that is open to giving and receiving ideas, perspectives, and feedback.
• Possess a strong leadership aptitude, including excellent and succinct written and verbal communication skills with a diverse range of individuals and audiences, a demonstrated ability to mentor junior staff, and a history of building strong professional relationships.
• Possess strong organizational and time management skills, and technical leadership attributes evidenced by a track record of executing challenging objectives, critical thinking and the ability to lead and contribute to teams from any position within a highly collaborative environment.
• Are able to obtain a Secret security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...

• Experience with computational tools for analysis and summarization of complex biological datasets, including statistical analysis and data visualization.
• Strong experience in the analysis of functional genomic screening data and, integration of functional genomics with molecular profiling and other data types.
• Experience working with de-identified data and knowledge of best practices.
• Microfluidics expertise, and prototype development particularly for use in the austere environment.
• Familiarity with clinical assay development and GCLP standards.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.