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Bioengineering Scientist

Rockville, MD

(ID: 2025-1343)


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 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 Bioengineering Scientist to our dynamic team. The Contractor(s) shall provide services in support of the overall functions of the Virus Persistence and Dynamic Section (VPDS), Vaccine Research Center (VRC).

 

Technical Requirements:

  • Develop microfluidics-based approaches for analysis of intra-host virus diversity and evolution, such as:
    • An approach for high-throughput, single-copy, full-length sequencing of purified virus genomes, to include the following:
  • Optimized virus inactivation and nucleic acid extraction procedures from blood and body fluids
  • Customized microfluidic devices, regimes of operation, and reagents that partition extracted virus genomes in aqueous solution into monodisperse water-in-oil emulsions and thus enable downstream single-copy analysis
    • An approach for high-throughput sequencing of individual intact virions, to include the following:
  • Non-destructive procedures for abrogating the infectivity of intact virions in suspension
  • Customized microfluidic devices, regimes of operation, and reagents that can partition single-virion suspensions into water-in-oil emulsions at limiting dilution and thus enable downstream single-virion analysis
  • Maintain records of all work using appropriate electronic systems
  • Present results at internal and external meetings
  • Collaborate with NIH and non-NIH scientists
  • Train other NIH scientists in methods under development
  • Contribute to original research manuscripts describing findings

 

Specific Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, or physics and 2+ years of experience.
  • Professional competency with design and fabrication of microfluidic devices, including flow-based droplet generators, using soft lithography (i.e., template design/production and device generation in polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]) and glass fabrication techniques
  • Professional competency with operation of the Pacific Biosciences Revio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencer platform
  • Professional competency with basic bioinformatic and evolutionary biology tools for sequence analysis, including current softwares for database searches, multiple sequence alignment generation, and phylogenetic inference
  • Professional competency with RNA extraction from human blood and body fluid samples, reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing library preparation and quality control
  • Intensive experience with laboratory automation, including liquid handling systems
  • Experience with the application of complex bioinformatic pipelines for next-generation sequence data analysis
  • Working understanding of human immunology, with emphasis on innate and adaptive antiviral host responses
  • Track record of high-profile, peer-reviewed, first-author publication in the field of bioengineering
  • Track record of high-profile, peer-reviewed, first-author publication in the field of virus evolution
  • Track record of high-impact publications related to RNA virus infections

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.

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

Salary Range

$120,000 - $140,000 USD

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