Researcher - Axle
Bethesda, MD
About the Job
(ID: 2024-5202)
Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Axle is seeking a Researcher to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) located in Bethesda, MD.
Benefits We Offer:
- 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- 401K match up to 5%
- Educational Benefits for Career Growth
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- Healthcare (FSA)
- Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
- Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
- Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)
Overall Position Summary and Objectives
We have discovered six distinct anti-prion systems in S. cerevisiae and are analyzing how they work. We are also studying whether these systems prevent some proteins from being prions at all. While searching for such prions, we are also looking for new anti-prion systems or new components of already known systems. Our studies of mutants carrying defects in several anti-prion systems have shown that they generate prions at thousands of times the frequency of normal strains. We are also pursuing an understanding of this phenomenon.
Deliverables:
- Clean Equipment - Ad-Hoc
- Run Validation - Ad-Hoc
- Inspect Equipment - Ad-Hoc
- Meet with lab members to present updates - Ad-Hoc
Work Details:
- 4. Examine the inositol polyphosphate levels of cells overexpressing the Pho86 protein which we have found bypasses a need for specific inositol polyphosphate kinases. Other mutants affecting prion propagation that show interactions with the inositol polyphosphate – related genes will also be examined for their levels of these compounds. 1
- 7. Seminar Attendance – Attend LBG seminars and Wickner/Masison Joint Group seminars. 2
- Keep various laboratory items in stock, and perform other tasks as directed. 3
- Performs laboratory experiments in support of research programs and projects.
- 1. Scientific Experiments – Independently carry out experiments concerning prion proteins and anti-prion systems.
- 2. Purify the various known prion proteins using affinity columns and examine whether they are capable of making amyloid in vitro, and, if so, whether this amyloid is infectious for yeast by using a yeast infectivity assay.
- 3. Do transmission EM of the amyloid filaments if above infectious amyloid is made successfully to study the structure of this amyloid using solid-state NMR and cryoEM.
- 4. Examine the inositol polyphosphate levels of cells overexpressing the Pho86 protein which we have found bypasses a need for specific inositol polyphosphate kinases. Other mutants affecting prion propagation that show interactions with the inositol polyphosphate – related genes will also be examined for their levels of these compounds. 1
- 5. Using the yeast knockout library, isolate mutants that increase the frequency of prions of Tup1 or Cyc8 and examine their mechanism of action.
- 6. Laboratory Management – Keep various laboratory items in stock and perform other tasks as directed.
- 7. Seminar Attendance – Attend LBG seminars and Wickner/Masison Joint Group seminars. 2
- Contractor will attend LBG seminars and Wickner/Masison Joint Group seminars.
- Maintains clear and accurate records of laboratory work in defined notebooks and converts those records to electronic records as appropriate.
- Conduct data storage, and record keeping.
- Perform data retrieval and entry using multiple IT systems.
- Record and interpret experimental data.
- Collect and analyze data; organize spreadsheets; prepare graphs, reports, summaries and illustrations for use and tracking of protocol activity.
- Maintain and update laboratory notebook and database that includes a daily record of experiments; description of the overall analysis plan for each experiment, experimental methods/analysis plans, and results of experiments.
- Provide preliminary descriptive analysis of study materials and methods.
- Coordinate the collection and analysis of research data and analysis systems; ensure that all records are complete.
- Review all records and make necessary notations before submitting them for interpretation.
- Operates a variety of laboratory equipment.
- Calibrate and operate a variety of laboratory instruments under GLP guidelines and follow SOPs to perform test, analysis, and other procedures.
- Prepare, maintain, document and operate research tools and technologies.
- Performs quality control of the laboratory including upkeep and routine maintenance of equipment.
- Conduct and coordinate operations in research laboratory, including space, equipment use and scheduling.
- Perform trouble shooting of equipment; document actions required to resolve problem and initiate corrective action as needed.
- Perform required quality control steps as needed.
- Calibrate and operate a variety of laboratory instruments used to perform tests, analyses, and other laboratory procedures.
- Perform quality control of laboratory equipment.
- Perform daily calibration, operation, and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
- Monitor equipment performance and maintenance schedules; perform regularly scheduled maintenance on equipment and generate maintenance reports for equipment.
- Orders and maintains laboratory supplies, including chemicals, biological materials, liquid nitrogen, etc.
- Develop protocols into SOPs for use in training material.
- Coordinate the day to day procurement functions within a research setting (i.e., laboratory).
- Procure various types and categories of supplies, equipment, and services required by a research laboratory.
- Initiate requests for new or renewal of standing orders for widely used supplies and services.
- Interact with administrative staff on management and procurement issues.
- Gather information and prepare procurement documents, including Statements of Work and justifications for a variety of supplies and services.
- Research and prepare documents for the procurement supplies and research equipment/tools.
- Prepare purchase requests for execution through procurement systems.
- Order and maintain laboratory supplies, reagents and equipment.
- Inventory laboratory supplies and equipment, make recommendations and prepare purchase requests.
- Attends and presents data at laboratory meetings and one national scientific meeting.
- Attend laboratory meetings; present findings to staff.
- Prepare charts and figures for presentations and reports.
- Attend facility staff meetings/reviews lab practices or review minutes of the meeting.
- Prepare and present posters at scientific meetings.
- Draft and produce reports, briefings and other materials for discussion with staff.
- Prepare abstracts and manuscripts based on study data and experimental findings to be presented at scientific meetings and/or publication in scientific journals.
- Attend conferences and seminars; read literature to remain current in related information.
- Present findings describing outcomes of successful projects at meetings and conferences.
- Develops laboratory experiments in support of research programs and projects.
- Interpret experimental techniques and procedures; prepare reports on data results.
- Conduct research including planning, and conducting experiments and data analysis in the Laboratory
- Collaborate with investigators to carry out research testing in the clinical research laboratory according to written standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Perform experiments as listed in analysis plan.
- Prepare a draft written description of the analysis procedures, the findings, the limitations and the proposal for followup experiments.
- Perform both routine and specialized laboratory procedures of moderate to high complexity.
- Design and perform experiments to advance laboratory goals
- Perform experiments with all necessary controls; perform repeat experiments to determine reproducibility; design new experiments as necessary for progress.
- Perform fundamental procedures required for research projects.
- Perform routine experiments and tests; follow established procedures and protocols.
- Coordinates quality control of the laboratory including upkeep and routine maintenance of equipment.
- Conduct and coordinate operations in research laboratory, including space, equipment use and scheduling.
- Perform trouble shooting of equipment; document actions required to resolve problem and initiate corrective action as needed.
- Perform required quality control steps as needed.
- Calibrate and operate a variety of laboratory instruments used to perform tests, analyses, and other laboratory procedures.
- Perform quality control of laboratory equipment.
- Perform daily calibration, operation, and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
- Monitor equipment performance and maintenance schedules; perform regularly scheduled maintenance on
- equipment and generate maintenance reports for equipment.
- Reviews orders and maintains laboratory supplies, including chemicals, biological materials, liquid nitrogen, etc.
- Develop protocols into SOPs for use in training material.
- Coordinate the day to day procurement functions within a research setting (i.e., laboratory).
- Procure various types and categories of supplies, equipment, and services required by a research laboratory.
- Initiate requests for new or renewal of standing orders for widely used supplies and services.
- Interact with administrative staff on management and procurement issues.
- Gather information and prepare procurement documents, including Statements of Work and justifications for a variety of supplies and services.
- Research and prepare documents for the procurement supplies and research equipment/tools.
- Prepare purchase requests for execution through NIH procurement systems.
- Order and maintain laboratory supplies, reagents and equipment.
- Inventory laboratory supplies and equipment, make recommendations and prepare purchase requests.
- Attends and / or presents data at laboratory meetings and one national scientific meeting.
- Attend laboratory meetings; present findings to staff.
- Prepare charts and figures for presentations and reports.
- Attend facility staff meetings/reviews lab practices or review minutes of the meeting.
- Prepare and present posters at scientific meetings.
- Draft and produce reports, briefings and other materials for discussion with staff.
- Prepare abstracts and manuscripts based on study data and experimental findings to be presented at scientific meetings and/or publication in scientific journals.
- Attend conferences and seminars; read literature to remain current in related information.
- Present findings describing outcomes of successful projects at meetings and conferences.
- Develops strategies with supervisor and other laboratory personnel to plan subsequent experiments.
- Conduct computerized searches of library references, scientific publications and other databases; extract, consolidate and organize pertinent materials.
- Prepare written evaluation of results including detected deficiencies/defects, and reports on research protocols, processing, analysis, and storage.
- Provide reference and research service in response to requests for information on biomedical subjects.
- Review and discuss the results of experiments; propose and discuss possible new experiments.
- Interact with scientists from other organizations or institutions involved in similar or related research projects.
- Revise the analysis plan and experiments based on the findings of earlier experiments.
- Collaborate with staff on planning and executing plans for the development of new research protocols and tools.
- Evaluates and interprets computer analysis of research data and prepares data for publication.
- Use the computer to cross reference design and repeat experiments and research before preparing findings for publication.
- Cross reference research data; conduct comparative analysis.
- Trains staff in specialized laboratory techniques, procedures and laboratory safety.
- Train and mentor fellows and other scientists who work on project and use equipment; provide quality control measures; develop training plans; oversee training in laboratory techniques.
- Provide training to students and other personnel in the use of laboratory equipment and in the performance of specialized procedures, techniques, etc.
- Mentor graduate students or other junior staff to help them learn about assay development, lab equipment and guide their project structure.
- Provide training to other personnel on specialized procedures, methodologies, etc.
- Keep abreast of current research projects and to determine research assistance and information support.
- Provide training in laboratory experiments to post-doctoral fellows and technicians.
- Interact with students, post-doctoral fellows and non-doctoral research technicians on experimental design and laboratory-based methodologies.
- Provide mentoring to post-baccalaureate students in the research group.
- Create and educate lab members and colleagues in protocols for using new research technologies and tools.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represents priority rankings, where 1 is highest priority and 5 is lowest priority of those ranked
Minimum Education
Bachelor
Additional Qualifications:
Field of Study
- Miscellaneous Health Medical Professions
Disclaimer:The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.
The diversity of Axle's employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.
Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: careers@axleinfo.com
Source : Axle