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Scientist

Rockville, MD

(ID: 2024-6999)

Axle Informatics 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 around the globe. 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).

Benefits:

  • 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
  • Paid Time Off (Including Holidays)
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • 401K Match
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
  • Flexible Spending Accounts:
    • Healthcare (FSA)
    • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
    • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
    • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Overview

  • Axle is looking to add a driven, flexible, organized, and meticulous Scientist to our dynamic team. The Contractor(s) will independently offer services to support the Vaccine Research Center/Flow Cytometry Core Facility (VPP/FCC) overall functions. The main goal is to produce deliverables and services by performing support services. 

 

Technical Requirements: 

  • Assist with protocol development and safety compliance for sorting infectious samples, ensuring compliance with international standards. 
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners for analyzing infectious samples, including tuberculosis and HIV co-infection studies. 
  • Develop, implement, and optimize novel cytometry-based techniques for analyzing and sorting antigen-specific B and T cells. 
  • Develop safety protocols for sorting unfixed SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and other infectious agents. Collaborate on projects to measure and analyze small extracellular vesicles (EVs) and other nanoparticles. Conduct research assays, analyze experimental data, interpret results, and produce comprehensive reports and summaries. 
  • Ensure the validity of laboratory data, addressing deviations and problems according to established protocols. 
  • Develop automated data analysis pipelines for reproducible summary data generation. 
  • Support the FTL in ongoing collaborations with equipment manufacturers to ensure that the VRC has access to and support to use the latest modifications and techniques on the analyzers and cell sorters. Identify and implement new flow cytometry-related technologies to enhance VRC’s capabilities in deep profiling immune cells. 
  • Conduct routine basic and advanced training and educational efforts on flow cytometry methods and applications for researchers and collaborators, including safety and technical workshops for analyzers and cell sorters. 
  • Support FCC staff in continuously training over 200 VRC users on equipment use, biosafety practices and fundamental principles in the cell sorting facility. 
  • Train staff and users on all new equipment and ensure new equipment performs up to the existing standards and tolerances. 
  • Ensure that best practices in flow cytometry are implemented and educate FCC staff and VRC users accordingly. 
  • Assist with FCC operations, ensuring high-quality control, data accuracy, and compliance with regulatory standards, including data storage requirements. 
  • Responsibilities include maintaining existing sorting equipment, advising on the selection of new cutting-edge equipment, and maintaining data repositories that comply with NIAID and NIH policies. 
  • Operate and maintain existing equipment and provide guidance to the FTL on the selection and use of new, cutting-edge equipment. 
  • Support cell sorting projects with well-documented quality procedures and practices. 
  • Assist the FTL with the risk assessment program for all active cell sorting projects and advise researchers accordingly. 
  • Calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment, troubleshoot issues, and update procedural manuals and methods for the FCC cell sorting facility. Analyze laboratory testing reports and maintain detailed logs of all work-related activities.
  • Identify and address unexpected test discrepancies, recommend solutions and devising new measurement methods. 
  • Interface with researchers, suppliers, reference labs, and equipment personnel to support operational needs. 
  • Develop and optimize fluorescent reagents to be used by the FCC and the VRC research staff. 
  • Ensure validated practices for all reagents and protocols used in the FCC for optimal detection and train VRC research staff accordingly. 
  • Present data internally through lectures and bench training, providing technical guidance and advice on data interpretations for internal laboratory scientists. 
  • Participate in internal presentations.

 

Specific Qualifications:

  • Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, or a related biomedical research field. 
  • A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in flow cytometry and immunology. 
  • Current or former ISAC (International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry) Scholar, Emerging Leader, or Innovator 
  • Expertise in risk assessment and providing biosafety recommendation for flow sorting samples of biological hazards. 
  • Extensive experience in regulatory compliance and quality assurance.
  • Demonstrated success in developing and implementing cutting-edge flow cytometry techniques.
  • Extensive experience in providing supervised and unsupervised single cell data analysis solutions for high-parameter flow cytometry. 
  • Experience in setting up immunophenotyping pipelines for high-dimensional flow cytometry.
  • Proven record of successfully managing and leading scientific teams. 
  • Experience in working within a core/shared resource facility. 
  • Strong collaboration and effective communication skills.

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 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

Disclaimer:The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individual’s 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.

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