Associate Scientist

Position Summary: The Associate Scientist performs research and testing within a CLIA certified, high-complexity clinical testing and R&D laboratory.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Assist in the development, validation, and implementation of cell pathway and signaling assays for human cells from various tissue sources and cell lines.
2. Culture and prepare consistent batches of human cells for assays.
3. Maintain multiple human cell samples grown under various laboratory conditions.
4. Perform assays to identify and sort cell types by biomarkers.
5. Perform genotypic and pathway characterizations for human cells.
6. Collaborate with science Directors to develop new assays or troubleshoot existing assays.
7. Manage, organize, and maintain laboratory resources, instruments, procedures/protocols.
8. Provide documentation control support, including cell assay R&D result records and procedures.
9. Acquire competency in several clinical diagnostic procedures.
10. Adhere and facilitate the laboratory's quality control policies, document all quality control activities, instrument calibrations, and maintenance.
11. Follow the laboratory's established policies and procedures whenever test systems do not meet the laboratory's established acceptable levels of performance;
12. Identify opportunities to reduce assay variance and prevent equipment downtime;
13. Document corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications.
14. Report to work as scheduled.
15. Maintain compliance with HIPAA requirements, follow laboratory standard operating procedures and CAP/CLIA regulations; adhere to safety regulations

Qualifications:
1. Must have demonstrated ability to carry out human cell experiments independently. Must have practical knowledge about human cell culture for performing live cell assays.
2. Experience developing assays using some of the following assay techniques: qpcr, flow cytometry, automated western blot, rna-seq, plate based fluorescent/luminescent, impedance-based, metabolic profiling, oxygen consumption, imaging.
3. Excellent organization skills capable of managing basic lab functions, documenting, and managing complex processes in a punctual manner.
4. Experience establishing, monitoring and maintaining a stable and productive environment through Quality Control, preventative maintenance, and standard operating procedures to ensure uniformity of high-quality data output.
5. Excellent verbal and written English skills.

6. Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Cell Biology, Oncology, or Translational or Systems Medicine, with research laboratory experience in molecular cell biology, human cell culture, and microplate-based live cell assay development.
-Ph.D. with experience developing activity-based live cell assays for small molecules, OR
-Master’s Degree with a minimum of 5 years of industry experience developing activity based live cell assays for small molecules, OR
-Bachelor of Science degree with a minimum of 8 years of industry experience developing activity-based live cell assays for small molecules, AND
-Experience in a medical laboratory or biotechnology setting consistent with the job duties and responsibilities.

Capabilities:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following capabilities:

1. Analytical – Collect and analyze data. Perform reagent concentration calculations. Demonstrate attention to detail. Knowledge of basic statistical principles.
2. Design – Design basic workflows and procedures with supervisor input. Demonstrate attention to detail. Use supervisor feedback to appropriately modify designs.
3. Problem Solving – Identify potential problems. Gather necessary information to generate solutions. Notify supervisor appropriately and participate in troubleshooting of complex problems with senior staff.
4. Ethics - Work ethically and with enthusiasm, integrity, and scientific rigor.
5. Innovation - Display original thinking and creativity on a practical level, applying deductive reasoning. Meet challenges with resourcefulness. Generate suggestions for improving test design and objective measurements.
6. Judgment - Display critical thinking and willingness to make decisions. Exhibit sound and accurate judgment and include appropriate people in the decision-making process.
7. Planning/Organizing - Use time efficiently. Work with supervisor to prioritize work. Execute plans to completion.
8. Quality – Demonstrate understanding of and compliance with quality control and controlled processes. Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness with respect to experimental detail.
9. Communication – Design and write basic study plans with moderate input from supervisor. Summarize results and formulate appropriate conclusions for presentation in meetings or in study reports. Demonstrate a succinct, grammatically correct writing style.

Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
1. Language Ability - Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, governmental regulations, technical or professional journals, and equipment manuals. Ability to write reports and document data. Ability to speak effectively before small groups.
2. Math Ability: Ability to apply fractions, percentages, and statistics to work situations. Ability to work with logarithms and exponents.
3. Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply principles of scientific thinking to a range of practical and intellectual issues.
4. Computer Ability: Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Certificates and Licenses: None

Supervisory Responsibility: Possible Lab Operations Supervision

Work Environment: This position requires the employee to work in a laboratory environment. Typically, standard business hours; flexibility required.